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Body fat scale buying guide

How to choose the best body fat scale to meet your needs.

Jacob Stern
Jacob Stern

Updated

Fact checked
young woman standing on digital weight scale

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Quick facts about body fat scale:

  • Body fat scales can tell you how much of your body is made up of fat as opposed to muscle, bone or water. This can help you more accurately work towards your health goals.
  • Body fat scales offer a range of different functions, and by considering exactly what you want out of your purchase, you can avoid paying for features you won't use.

What is a body fat scale?

A body fat scale shows you the percentage of fat that your body contains. For example, if you weigh 100kg and have 10kg of fat, then your body fat percentage is 10%.

The scales work by sending a small electrical current through your body and measuring the resistance it receives. Muscle tissue contains a lot of water and offers low resistance, while fat tissue contains little water and offers high resistance. This resistance is measured against other inputted information, such as height, gender and age, to produce a body fat percentage reading.

It is important to remember that while body fat scales are useful tools that can provide users with a good idea of their body composition, they are not always 100% accurate. Body fat readings should be used as a baseline indicator of progress and you should see a health professional to help you interpret any unusual readings or fluctuations.

Healthy body fat percentages differ for men and women. The table below provides a breakdown of suggested body fat percentage ranges:

Suggested body fat percentages for men and women

MenWomen
Athlete6% to 13%14% to 20%
Healthy14% to 17%21% to 24%
Overweight18% to 24%25% to 31%
At risk25% +32% +

Source: American Council on Exercise

Body fat scales vs traditional weight scales

Weight scales simply measure body mass, while body fat scales indicate what percentage of your overall mass is fat. Body fat scales give a more accurate indication of your body's health and composition than traditional weight scales, as they can distinguish between fat and muscle.

Why should I consider a body fat scale?

There are several ways body fat scales can be useful, including:

  • Knowing your body. Body fat scales can give you a detailed breakdown of your body composition in a way that traditional weight scales can't.
  • Establishing health levels. You can compare the body fat scale readings against recommended health norms to establish where your health levels stand.
  • Setting fitness goals. Once you know your body fat percentage, you can start to set curated goals to improve or maintain your health levels.
  • Tracking fitness progress. Having your own body fat scale allows you to check on your health and fitness progress whenever you want.

Who shouldn't consider a body fat scale?

Body fat scales aren't for everyone. Some people shouldn't fit into traditional body fat categories. Others shouldn't be exposed to the small electrical current the scale uses. These people include:

  • Children, athletes and bodybuilders. Body fat percentage readings may be unreliable and fluctuate wildly for these groups of people.
  • People with pacemakers. The electrical current that these scales send out could impact a pacemaker, and it's best to avoid this risk.
  • People with metal plates or bolts. Metal inside the body could influence the percentage reading.
  • Pregnant women. Body composition changes dramatically during pregnancy, and readings will vary. And although the electrical current from the scales is very small, many manufacturers still recommend not using these scales during pregnancy.

What options are available?

All body fat scales take a body fat percentage reading, but they often offer other features too. One of the ways to distinguish between body fat scales is to check what other readings the machine is able to give you. These might include:

How to compare body fat scales

Basic scales start at around $20, while scales with more advanced features for medical offices can cost $1,000 or more. Consider what you need from your scale so you don't spend money on extra features that you'll never use.

When purchasing a body fat scale, consider the following features:

Display

Are the numbers easy to read? You don't want to be squinting or struggling to decipher what your scales are telling you. If you have any difficulties with your vision, look for a scale with a large display and high brightness.

Memory storage

Many scales are Bluetooth or Wi-Fi compatible and store your information on a compatible mobile app. Other scales have inbuilt storage and keep readings for a certain amount of time.

Location

Most scales are thrown off if used on carpet. Hard surfaces are preferable as they provide a more accurate body fat percentage reading due to more evenly distributed weight. Consider where you will be using your new scale.

Moisture

Some scales are impacted by large amounts of moisture in the air. If you have a small bathroom with no ventilation, your body fat scale might be better off in the kitchen or living space.

Extra readings

If you're interested in your water weight or your BMI (Body Mass Index), then be sure to look for a scale that offers additional readings.

Warranties

Check the warranty length. Some manufacturers offer a year, while some offer up to five. Scales live on the floor and you never know what might drip, drop or fall onto them.

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