A body fat scale is what most of us use to track our weight. Unfortunately, what a lot of us oftentimes see is our weight isn’t coming off like we hoped. For some, this begs the question of whether our body weight scale is working or not.
Are body weight scales accurate?
Body weight scales are accurate however measurements of body fat are rough estimates. While they are safe to use, a number of variables can affect the results – gender, where fat is stored, whether you’re pregnant, age, height, stature, and if you’ve recently been through an endurance, resistance, or cardiovascular training. This doesn’t mean any scale is wholly inaccurate but is simply to say everything except weight is an estimate.
How do body weight scales work?
The tool inside a body weight scale measures your body weight – ok, we know this. But what if you’re measuring things like estimated fat percentage and other data. This is when it gets complicated. These types of scales usually employ sensors underneath the feet that use bioelectrical impedance to send a small electrical current up through the leg and across the pelvis. This current measures resistance from body fat, then travel back down the leg. More resistance, the higher the fat percentage. This is because fat has less water than muscle and is denser. Current to travel through is more difficult.
What does the BMI on my body weight scale mean?
BMI stands for Body Mass Index and is considered a more reliable assessment of your health compared to body fat alone. A BMI scale doesn’t measure fat. It essentially is an analysis of weight to your age and height. Here is a quick rundown of what the BMI numbers mean. Depending on where you fall, you could have wait to gain, lose, or maintain.
- 18.5 and below – you are underweight.
- 18.5 to 24.9 – this is a normal, healthy weight.
- 25.0 to 29.9 – you are overweight.
- 30.0 to above – you are obese.
Do I need a body weight scale at home?
If you’re serious about your health or are focused on losing weight, a body weight scale will measure it all for you any time. You don’t need to travel to a gym or clinic for it. That said, they aren’t the only way to measure health.
If you work out, you gain muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat. This means you could very well achieve better health without losing as much weight as you hoped. There are other metrics to monitor, including appearance which will tell you a lot about whether you’re accomplishing goals.
Get your own body weight scale from Living.ca today. Measure body weight, body fat, BMI, and more. Sync it up to your smartphone and track your health metrics with ease!
