The bathroom scale is a near-universal household item, and although it would be close to impossible to say the percentage of families who own a bathroom scale, it’s a safe assumption that the majority of people do. In today’s extremely appearance-conscious world, the best bathroom scale can be much more than a tool you use for weight loss. The best bathroom scales available today have a multitude of features that you wouldn’t even have dreamed possible a few years ago. While it’s pretty common for a good bathroom scale to measure your BMI along with your weight, today we’re going to look for even more complex scales: scales that measure your body fat, how they do it, and how that can help you realize your weight loss and fitness goals.
Here Are The Best Body Fat Scales
Image
Name
Price
Rating
Fitbit Aria WiFi Smart Scale
$$$
3.9
Withings WiFi Body Scale
$$$
4.2
Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor
$$$
4.2
Omron Body Composition Monitor with Scale
$$
4.1
Tanita BF680W Duo Scale Plus Body Fat Monitor
$$
4.4
Weight Gurus Digital Body Fat Scale
$$
4.4
Omron Fat Loss Monitor
$$
4.2
The bathroom scale has also been historically a symbol of unhappiness. How many people can you think of who have joked about dreading the number they’re going to see? Probably quite a few! While this isn’t a good thing, the perception of the scale is changing. A little later, you’ll read about how changing awareness and fitness goals are helping to make the scale a symbol of triumph and power, not defeat. With a great body fat scale, you can take back control over your life and diet! And while some might say that gaining control of your life is priceless, it’s also pretty affordable: most body scales run between $70 and $200, with some entry level models being even cheaper. Reading through the body fat scales reviews below will help you figure out which scale is best for you, but no matter which scale you choose, be confident that you’re selecting a great weight loss partner.
So, What’s the Difference?
The popularity of body fat scales interestingly (but not surprisingly) coincides with the popularity of the “pushing yourself to the limit” mentality in fitness. In today’s world, it’s not really enough to just be thin and healthy. The strongest athletes and fitness gurus today are well-educated about what steps they need to take and what foods they need to eat in order to stay healthy and on top of their game. Just think about all of the “extreme” fitness crazes that have taken place in recent years: CrossFit, Tough Mudder runs, Bikram Yoga. People are no longer content to enjoy spinning classes and aerobics, now it’s about pushing yourself until you feel like collapsing—and then doing it again! A few years ago, the term ‘skinny fat’ entered the popular lexicon, and more people than ever began to take notice about their bodies and their health. While it’s definitely possible to be thin and eat junk food and abstain from working out, it’s not the same kind of thin that comes from exercising and being careful about what foods you choose to eat. ‘Skinny fat’ is what we call people who may look healthy from the outside, but in fact can take credit for their looks based on metabolism or genetics. While it’s an uncomfortable truth for many people to stomach, it’s true that if you’re not eating right and exercising, you’re at much greater risk for heart disease, diabetes, liver disease, and kidney disease. Since we live in a more health-conscious time than ever before, it’s easier than ever to find the right tools you need to track your health. And while it may be true that any accurate scale would be able to help you on your fitness journey, a body fat scale goes above and beyond to really highlight what needs special attention. For instance, if you know that you’re genetically predisposed to diabetes, a body fat scale would be a great addition to your bathroom.
It bears mentioning that prior to body fat scale technology, the best way to measure your body fat was to use a pair of calipers. Calipers are an inexpensive tool that you could obtain from a bodybuilding store or a vitamin store. They look a bit like the metal compasses that you would have used in high school geometry, and they don’t require a ton of know-how before using. However, calipers have a couple of major drawbacks. For starters, you need to physically use calipers on every part of your body. For men, this is difficult by yourself, but for women, it’s downright impossible. A “helper” is recommended even for people who have used calipers before. For someone who is quite sensitive about their weight or body fat percentage, using calipers would be a pretty painful reminder of how far they have to go to reach their goal. Additionally, having another person help you measure your body fat is pretty personal—it would be so hard not to feel self-conscious, no matter what your weight! So as intimidating as getting on the scale may be, just remember: at least you don’t have to use calipers! For people who did enjoy using calipers (or at least weren’t bothered by the prospect), they will be no doubt be glad to know that most body fat scales can boast of similar accuracy read-outs to calipers.
All The Best Scales…
Now that you’ve read a little bit about what body fat scales can do you and how they can help you, let’s take a look at some of the most highly reviewed body fat scales available today. This article will review a few of the most popular scales in all price ranges, so if you’re worried about going broke on your quest to get fit for that high school reunion, don’t fear. Most of the scales in this article will fall under $100, but we’ll talk about price point as we go. By the end of the article, you’ll be confident that you’re making the best purchase for you and your individual needs.
EatSmart Precision GetFit Digital Body Scale
Click here to see the best price on Amazon.com
At first glance, the EatSmart Precision GetFit Digital Body scale looks like a somewhat ordinary, albeit very chic, digital bathroom scale. However, looks can be incredibly deceiving, as this bathroom scale is loaded with extras and features. The Precision GetFit scale, now with BIA (Bio-Electrical Impedance Analysis) technology allows for easy calculation of your body’s fitness by pre-loading with information before every weigh-in. Just program in your gender, height, age, activity level, and weight, then step on the scale with bare feet. The Precision GetFit’s auto recognition software will correctly match who is on the scale with the information you entered earlier, so in the future you won’t need to change any of that information. The BIA technology works by sending a low-level electrical signal through your body fat and then measures the resistance that the signal encounters. While this may sound more than a bit scary, it’s perfectly safe and you won’t even notice when the signal is on. The BIA signal is what allows the Precision GetFit to deliver amazing results to you: after measuring, it automatically computes your percentage of body fat, percentage total body water, percentage muscle mass, and your total bone mass. This scale can be programmed for up to eight users, so even though it’s not priced for an entry-level buyer, it would be a great idea for someone with roommates who also want to get fit and monitor their health. The Precision GetFit is automatically calibrated—a must for any decent digital bathroom scale—and is powered by four AAA batteries, which are included to you with scale purchase. This is definitely one of the best body fat scales out there, and it has the reviews to prove it. Most users are extremely satisfied with their product, and with the ability to receive your weigh-ins in kilos, pounds or stones; it’s hard to imagine who wouldn’t love this scale. The only thing you’ll need to watch out for with the Precision GetFit is to make absolutely sure that you’re following the instructions for an accurate read. For people seeking a reading of their most accurate body weight, you need to weigh yourselves first thing in the morning, before you’ve had anything to eat or drink. However, for people who are looking to find their body fat percentages and the other statistics, you’ll need to weigh yourself right before bed. Aside from that minor inconvenience, this scale feels like the Mary Poppins of body fat scales: practically perfect in every way.
Omron Body Composition Monitor With Scale
Click here to see the best price on Amazon.com
The Omron Body Composition Monitor offers quite a few of its own unique features. Unlike more traditional bathroom scale models, the Omrom Body Composition Monitor has a second, hand-held piece that you use in conjunction with the scale. Like the EatSmart Precision GetFit scale, the Omrom Body Composition Monitor also uses bioelectrical impedance to measure body fat. When you stand on the scale, you also hold onto the handles. In order for the Omron Body Composition Monitor to get a truly accurate reading, you’ll need to hold your arms straight out. While this is more time consuming than using the Precision GetFit, it’s worth it: the Omron body fat scale delivers immediate, accurate, and specialized results. In addition to your weight and body fat percentage, the Body Composition Monitor will also display your BMI, skeletal muscle, resting metabolism, visceral fat, and body age. This would be an incredibly useful tool for an athlete, or for anyone interested in how their diet is affecting their metabolism. In past, you needed to visit a doctors’ office in order to find the information provided to you by the Body Composition Monitor! While this body fat scale isn’t exorbitantly expensive, it’s not exactly an entry-level model, and would be best suited for someone serious about the needs of their body.
Omron Fat Loss Monitor
Click here to see the best price on Amazon.com
For those looking to get into the measurement game without dropping a lot of money, Omron offers a lower-cost fat loss monitor. This device measures your BMI as well as your body fat percentage. Like the more expensive models, the Omron Fat Loss Monitor has two different modes: one for most users, who are just looking to slim down, and one for more athletic users, who will be using this device in a much more strict way. Conveniently, the Fat Loss Monitor can store settings for up to nine people, so if you are an athlete, it might be a fun way to compete with your teammates. While this doesn’t have a ton of bells and whistles added on, it would be a good model for someone aiming for more casual use. And as a bonus, it doesn’t take up any floor space in your bathroom (or alert your guests to the fact that you’re watching your weight!) Since the Omron Fat Loss Monitor doesn’t actually give you your weight (only your BMI), it’s possible that you could use this device in conjunction with an older scale. This would be absolutely perfect for someone who is hesitant to upgrade, but doesn’t want to miss out on tracking their health and fitness.
GoWISE USA Digital Bathroom Scale
Click here to see the best price on Amazon.com
With convenient “step-on” technology and a sleek glass display, this body fat scale would be a futuristic addition to any bathroom lacking a scale. Like some of the other body fat scales we’ve discussed, it uses bioelectrical impedance to measure body fat, but unlike some of the other scales, it also measures bone mass and muscle mass. Measuring bone mass alone would be incredibly useful for someone watching out for osteoporosis, but watching for muscle mass would also be quite useful for athletes and casual users alike. For use of ease, the GoWISE Digital Bathroom Scale recognizes you when you step on the scale, and then goes through an immediate display of your weigh-in results. The body fat scales reviews’ for this scale frequently mention how satisfied customers are with the display. Many customers have even noted that the display stays up for a few seconds longer than the average scale, allowing time for you to write down your results if you wish. Another sign of a great body fat scale? The types of batteries used! This scale uses two CR2032 lithium batteries, which are much more reliable than the standard AA or AAA batteries often used. In terms of price, this body fat scale falls within a very accessible range, and can be used reliably by anyone weighing up to 400lbs.
VonHaus Body Fat Scale
Click here to see the best price on Amazon.com
The VonHaus Body Fat scale is an incredibly powerful body fat scale packed into a sleek and inexpensive package. In addition to the now-standard items that you should expect from a body fat scale, the VonHaus Body Fat scale also provides you with an extra bit of information: how many calories are needed per day in order to achieve your weight loss goals. While some of the more expensive scales and smart scales will do this for you, features like that are not as commonly seen in more economical models. Additionally, the VonHaus seems to be a fan favorite, with the majority of the reviews being very positive. Most users praise the Body Fat scale’s sleek appearance, attractively low price, and accuracy with regards to weight and body fat readings. While this scale does use AAA batteries, it can be reasoned that making the scale with more expensive components would have been too expensive, and perhaps driven up the cost of the VonHaus Body Fat scale. Unfortunately, the VonHaus scale doesn’t have the memory to store your previous weight, but it would definitely be possible to track your own progress using a smartphone app ors pen and paper after each weigh-in.
Weight Gurus Digital Body Fat Scale
Click here to see the best price on Amazon.com
With the Weight Gurus Digital Body Fat scale, we have another solid entry in the “attractively priced but very high tech” category of body fat scales. Coming in at under just $80, the Weight Gurus scale is perfect for anyone who wants to lose weight and track his or her vitals without breaking the bank in the process. In addition to featuring very accurate results and an easy-to-read backlit display, the Digital Body Fat scale syncs with the free Weight Gurus app on your smartphone. Synching is fast and easy, and you can use the app to track your progress and look at free, individualized charts based on your vitals. If you love the sleek look and low platform of this scale, you can definitely use it without the software, but based on the low cost of the scale and the free software, you’d really be missing out if you didn’t link the two. This is definitely one of the best body fat scales out there for the price, and users report loving the accuracy and the way that the app syncs with the scale. Another bonus? Weight Gurus offers a five-year warranty, which is more than double the standard two-year warranties offered on most scales!
So Which BMI Scale Do I Buy?
Well, that’s completely up to you! It would be hard to read through a piece highlighting the most popular body fat scales and not wind up wanting to buy one, but hesitation and confusion are totally normal at this point. Because technology has changed and developed so much more in the past few years, it would be especially understandable if you were confused about upgrading a much older scale. The good news is that because technology has indeed come so far, finding a user-friendly body fat scale at a low price point is easier than ever. It’s crazy to think that something once only available under the supervision of a professional is now accessible to everyone, but in order to keep up with today’s fitness-obsessed world, a good scale is a necessary tool. Furthermore, it’s been theorized that having an accurate and reliable scale can actually assist you with weight loss. Instead of continuing to see your daily weigh-in as a dreaded chore like we discussed earlier, start trying to frame it in a more positive light. Tell yourself each day that you’re healthier than yesterday because you’re staying on track with your fitness journey. Also, be sure that you’re taking the best care of yourself, and letting yourself have what you want sometimes. If you try to see your eating changes and fitness changes as permanent fixes to your lifestyle, losing weight and getting healthy won’t be nearly as difficult as it would if you felt like you were on a restrictive diet. Together, you and your new scale may cover a lot of ground, and that’s totally okay! In fact, that’s one of the reasons why it’s so important to pick the best scale for you.
If you’re still confused about which body fat scale to select, it may help to ask yourself some questions like the ones below.
What is my main fitness goal for using the scale?
How are daily weigh-ins and extra body fat information going to help me?
Am I the only one who is going to be using the scale?
Do I need a scale with all the possible added features, or would it be okay to have something less complicated?
By thinking about these questions, you’re bound to come up with more insight about your own lifestyle. Finally, go with you gut. Think about what feels ‘right’ for you and your goals, and go from there. While it would be silly to purchase without reading of the body fat scales reviews, intuition can be a powerful tool. Try reading some of the reviews yourself, and see if you connect with anything that a reviewer is saying. Chances are, people before you have had the same questions that you do. Body fat scales reviews are great, because oftentimes, the reviewer wants to inform as much as possible. Just like this article, reviews are a great source of facts—not hype—about a particular product. Much like your parents always said: if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. But don’t despair, after reading this article and hopefully some online reviews, you’ll be well on your way to obtaining the best body fat scale for you.
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