Body composition scales - seeking recommendations

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Kiwifruta

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#261718 11-Dec-2019 18:03

Hi.

I’m interested in getting my wife a set of scales, the type that measures lean body mass and body fat levels.

Yes, I realise she’ll probably hit me over the head with it!

More interested in accuracy than low price.

I’m not interested in working out my BMI as a proxy for body composition.

What do you recommend?

ren1316

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#2372709 11-Dec-2019 20:31

I personally use Tanita brand. No issues at all. I would recommend.

blackjack17

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#2372723 11-Dec-2019 20:49

Can't help with the scales but I could recommend a good vacuum :)

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Jiriteach

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#2372786 11-Dec-2019 21:48

I use the Nokia ones. I would say it isnt too bad.

Given my fitness and functional training, I have had proper testing done by Fitness Testing New Zealand and the values are +- 10%.
With all of these things - the science and formulas behind using measuring body mass and body fat is questionable. Its best to use them to work off a trend rather than each measurement.

-- opinions expressed by me are solely my own. ie - personal

Fred99

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#2372794 11-Dec-2019 22:32

Kiwifruta: Hi.

I’m interested in getting my wife a set of scales, the type that measures lean body mass and body fat levels.

Yes, I realise she’ll probably hit me over the head with it!

...

What do you recommend?

I really recommend you think again - and if you still come up with the wildly delusional concept that this might be a good idea, I wish you well for your future life of lonely celibacy.

Kiwifruta

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#2372795 11-Dec-2019 22:43

Jiriteach:
I use the Nokia ones. I would say it isnt too bad.

Given my fitness and functional training, I have had proper testing done by Fitness Testing New Zealand and the values are +- 10%.
With all of these things - the science and formulas behind using measuring body mass and body fat is questionable. Its best to use them to work off a trend rather than each measurement.

As long as they are consistent i.e. give the same reading 5 mins apart, and can therefore allow one to see a trend in the correct direction.

sidefx

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#2372868 12-Dec-2019 07:09

Yeah, they are very inaccurate, so only good for seeing trends (and even then I'd be somewhat skeptical) I tried a couple which told me my body fat was 35+% Then as part of a medical study had a couple of Dexa scans - both came back around 19-20%. After one of the scans I even went straight to a friends place and tried the scale again and I think it gave a reading over 40%.

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Batman

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#2372871 12-Dec-2019 07:17

Kiwifruta: Hi.

I’m interested in getting my wife a set of scales, the type that measures lean body mass and body fat levels.

Yes, I realise she’ll probably hit me over the head with it!

More interested in accuracy than low price.

I’m not interested in working out my BMI as a proxy for body composition.

What do you recommend?

does she know about this?

for accuracy - go to the university research lab.

also can i ask for what purpose?

rogercruse

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#2372876 12-Dec-2019 07:30

Fitbit and Garmin both produce bathroom scales that integrate with their own trackers (so your activities are recorded with your weight recordings).

I suggest you choose the Scales that link in best with the tracker you use.

I originally started with the Fitbit Scales but found them very fragile when connecting to your wifi network.

I now use Garmin Scales which are easier to setup.

Transferring weight records from Fitbit to Garmin isn't at all simple and it very time consuming.

meesham

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#2372881 12-Dec-2019 07:42

rogercruse:

Fitbit and Garmin both produce bathroom scales that integrate with their own trackers (so your activities are recorded with your weight recordings).

I suggest you choose the Scales that link in best with the tracker you use.

I originally started with the Fitbit Scales but found them very fragile when connecting to your wifi network.

I now use Garmin Scales which are easier to setup.

Transferring weight records from Fitbit to Garmin isn't at all simple and it very time consuming.

I have a Withings Body+ scale and it can push data to Fitbit very easily (when I had a Fitbit watch), you just need to give the Withings Health app permission. Garmin is a bit more complex as you need to use a third party tool to do it (Garmin charge for API access).

mudguard

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#2372894 12-Dec-2019 08:08

Kiwifruta: Hi.

I’m interested in getting my wife a set of scales, the type that measures lean body mass and body fat levels.

Yes, I realise she’ll probably hit me over the head with it!

More interested in accuracy than low price.

I’m not interested in working out my BMI as a proxy for body composition.

What do you recommend?

How do any scales measure body fat without using a BMI of some sort? I have some scales I bought from Bed, Bath or Beyond. It does the stats stuff. Basically it's telling me each Saturday to lose 5kg!

Fred99

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#2373039 12-Dec-2019 09:20

mudguard: It does the stats stuff. Basically it's telling me each Saturday to lose 5kg!

Did it suggest where you need to lose it? Just saying - 5kg is about the weight of a human head. :-)

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scuwp

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#2373078 12-Dec-2019 10:07

Sorry I am going to be no help whatsoever, but just thinking of the physics involved just wondering how a set of scales could at all, or with any accuracy possibly differentiate body fat from lean mass. All a scale does is measure the total weight placed on it. I'm sure that entering some perimeters an algorithm could possibly take a 'swag' at it...which is little more than an iteration of BMI, but that's about it.

I also suggest a new iron and ironing board, to go with the scales and already suggested vacuum cleaner to cement your journey into singledom :-)

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

meesham

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#2373099 12-Dec-2019 10:32

scuwp:

but just thinking of the physics involved just wondering how a set of scales could at all, or with any accuracy possibly differentiate body fat from lean mass. All a scale does is measure the total weight placed on it.

It uses Bioelectrical impedance, the accuracy can be affected by a number of factors though especially where the fat is located on the person's body. It's why you need to use the scales with bare feet.