What is the difference between Net Change and Percent Change in the Progress and Challenge reports?
What is the difference between Net Change and Percent Change in the Progress and Challenge reports?
The Styku Progress Report and Challenge Report display body measurement changes in two ways: Net Change (e.g., "Lost 8 lbs") and Percent Change (e.g., "5.3% loss"). Knowing the difference helps you choose the right metric for client reviews and challenge competitions.
How they are calculated
Net Change is the straightforward difference between starting and ending values:
Net Change = ending value − starting value
Percent Change is that difference expressed as a proportion of the starting value:
Percent Change = (ending value − starting value) ÷ starting value × 100
Example: A client starts at 150 lbs and ends at 140 lbs.
- Net Change: 150 − 140 = 10 lbs
- Percent Change: (140 − 150) ÷ 150 × 100 = −6.67% (a 6.67% loss)
Why Percent Change is better for challenge competitions
Net Change can be misleading when comparing clients of different starting sizes.
| John | Nick
Starting weight | 350 lbs | 120 lbs
Ending weight | 340 lbs | 110 lbs
**Net Change** | **−10 lbs** | **−10 lbs**
**Percent Change** | **−2.86%** | **−8.33%**
By Net Change, John and Nick tied — both lost 10 lbs. But losing 10 lbs from 120 lbs is a significantly greater relative effort than losing 10 lbs from 350 lbs. Percent Change captures that difference.
Bottom line: Use Percent Change when you want to level the playing field in a challenge or competition. Use Net Change when you want to show absolute progress to an individual client.
If this resolves your issue, no further action is needed.
Applies to: Styku Studio, Styku Leaderboard, all Styku scanner configurations
Related Resources
- What measurements are used in the Net Loss/Gain and Progress measurement sets?
- How can I show a client their before and after scans, and highlight progress with Styku?