What you should know before buying a 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.
Our guide will help you compare body fat scales and make the right choice for meeting your health and lifestyle needs.
Comparison of body fat scales
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
| Men | Women | |
|---|---|---|
| Athlete | 6% to 13% | 14% to 20% |
| Healthy | 14% to 17% | 21% to 24% |
| Overweight | 18% to 24% | 25% to 31% |
| At risk | 25% + | 32% + |
Source: American Council on Exercise
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:
Weight
Your body's mass. Doctors recommend keeping track of your weight as it can be an indicator of positive or negative lifestyle changes, as well as illness.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Your height and weight determine your BMI. Your BMI is used by many health organisations to assess your health and wellbeing.
Water weight
How much water your body is carrying. Excess water weight can often be linked to bloating and swelling-related ailments..
Bone mass
The weight of your bones. This reading can indicate whether you have any issues related to bone density.
Muscle mass
The weight of the muscles in your body. Increasing muscle mass can help increase the speed at which fat is burned.
Metabolic age
Your basal metabolic rate shows how much energy your body burns while resting. This rate is compared to age group averages to tell you how "old" your body is behaving.
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:
Which body fat scale is best for me?
The best body fat scale for you will depend on how you'll use it and what you're willing to pay. How many people will be using the same machine? What extra information do you want from your scale? Do you want data sent straight to your mobile?
To give you an idea of what's out there, we've compiled a pros and cons list for some of the top body fat scale brands available:
| The good | The bad | |
|---|---|---|
| Tanita BC-587 |
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| Fitbit Aria 2 |
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| Garmin Index |
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| Omron BF214 |
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| iHealth Core HS6 |
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How does your weight affect your insurance premiums?
You can buy body fat scales online or in store. The following retailers stock body fat scales:
