The fitness industry is massive. Plenty of people are looking to lose body fat and achieve a slimmer and more healthier body. There are plenty of devices that claim to help with this, with some being more useful than others. At Home Gym Review, we’ve tried everything from basic scales, all the way to elite tanita scales. Although I’m not a fan of weighing myself too regularly, they have their uses when you’re trying to shed those pounds.
Body fat scales are definitely one of the more useful tools for losing weight. They have gotten plenty of attention due to advertisements and being featured on TV programs. Not to mention most people who go to a gym see one and consider getting one at home.
A body fat scale tells you how much body fat you have which helps understand how your diet is going. So, what are the best body fat scales? Let’s find out.
What are Body Fat Scales?
The first thing to know about body fat scales is they aren’t the most accurate devices in the world. These scales are made to estimate your body fat percentage, even though some claim to give a definitive number. Take the results with a pinch of salt as even the best body fat scales can’t deliver a perfect number.
Even if they aren’t totally accurate, the relative accuracy they offer is still worth the investment. They can tell you whether you are losing or gaining fat, if nothing else. These scales also work well when combined with BMI calculations for non-athletic people. When combined, the results give you a good idea of the overall health of a person and their body composition.
A body fat scale lets you do this all from the comfort of your own home. You can measure your weight and body composition, determining how much water, fat, and muscle you have, without having to leave your bathroom. Understanding body composition is a key part of losing weight. The best kind of weight loss is losing fat and retaining – or building – muscle.
The Best Body Fat Scales
RENPHO Body Fat Scale Bluetooth, Digital Body Weight Bathroom Scales Weighing Scale Smart BMI Scales, Body Composition Monitors with Smartphone...
- 13 Body Composition Analysis - Connect the smart scales with the Renpho Health App to track your 13 essential body measurements, including body weight, body fat percentage, BMI, muscle mass, etc. This helps you gain a more comprehensive view of your health and move towards a healthier lifestyle.
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The Renpho Body Fat Scales stand out due to impressive app capabilities. The scales record 13 different measurements, including body fat, BMI, and muscle mass. All this information is kept on the Renpho app. The app seamlessly syncs the data across multiple devices.
Don’t worry if you don’t have your phone to hand when you weigh yourself, as the information is sent automatically as soon as the connection is re-established.
The app makes it easy to monitor your progress. Not only do you have all the latest data on the app, but you also get access to your historical data. This data shows you your daily, weekly, and monthly progress so you know where you stand.
This might not be the most powerful or impressive app functionality we’ve ever seen, but no one said it had to be. What matters is that it is well thought out, well designed and programmed, and incredibly useful for users.
It’s one of the best quality apps we’ve seen, even if other apps have more features.
The scales themselves are as accurate as you would expect. The high precision sensors automatically calibrate themselves, meaning they are very sensitive. These sensors measure in increments of just 0.2lb/0.05kg up to 180kg. The scales have four sensitive electrodes to take measurements through the tempered glass platform.
These scales are sleek and look great, making them a perfect addition to any bathroom.
Best Bodyfat Scales with App Functionality
Tanita BC-601 Segmental Body Composition Monitor, Body Fat and Muscle Mass per Segment, Champagne Gold
- Combines the Latest Segmental Body Technology; SD Card Included
- Examines Five Body Areas and Parts: Arms and Legs as well as Core Abdominal Area
- Large LCD colour display; Usable with GMON Personal Software For In-depth Info and Extended Graphs. Weighing Capacity - 150kg. Weight Increments - 100gr
FitTrack makes a bold claim right out of the gate. The company claims you can reach weight loss goals up to eight times faster with the Dara scales. It’s hard to say how accurate that is because everyone loses and gains weight differently. Chances are you won’t be losing weight that fast, but you could lose it faster than you would otherwise.
No matter how much quicker you lose weight with body scales, the fact is that you are more likely to hit your goals faster and more efficiently if you have information from the scales to hand.
It’s just impossible to put a precise number on it.
The FitTrack Dara Scales do have some competitive advantages going for them over other basic models. For one thing, the scales let you measure much more than just your body fat percentage.
These scales let you measure 17 different body metrics. The scales also have an Active Mode for active people and offers more accurate reporting for different body types. Put together, it all means you get the best estimates for you. It’s as close to personalized results as you’re going to get, which is a big deal with losing weight.
FitTrack also claims to have the most accurate body composition scale, saying it is within 3% of a medical DEXA body fat percentage scan. If there’s any truth to that claim, then it automatically throws out the main criticism of body fat scales – their lack of accuracy.
This incredible accuracy is due in part to how smart the algorithm adjustments are. They are all based on personal habits. This is another big deal as these adjustments are the equations that typically let down these kinds of machines. More accurate algorithms make for more accurate measurements, which make for better results for you.
Another thing we like is that the scales are totally family friendly. These are smart scales capable of holding and tracking eight different user profiles. Everyone in the household can use it and adjust it to their custom needs.
There’s even options to use the scales with infants. All in all, it’s easy to see why this list starts with the FitTrack Dara scales as they are just that impressive.
Good ‘All-Round’ Scales
VOXON Smart Body Fat Scale, Body Composition Monitor and Smart Bathroom Scale, High Precision Health Analyzer with Smartphone App for...
- 【Triple Filter Shower Head】The ionic shower head uses 3 different mineral stones, the water flow through the showerhead can remove chlorine and other impurities, clean water so that your skin is effectively cleaned, say goodbye to skin troubles, to protect the health of your family.
The Voxon Body Fat Scales do much more than just measure body fat percentage. The data you get from these machines is invaluable, so you should avoid scales that only collect a few different metrics. The more metrics you get, the better the value for money.
With the Voxon, what you get is 13 different measurements. The scales measure body fat, BMI, fat-free body weight, visceral fat, subcutaneous fat, body water, muscle mass, skeletal mass, and more. The scales even show your metabolic age, but opinion is divided on how accurate that particular measurement is.
Voxon also delivers a smart app with the scales in the form of the Fitdays App. This free app is available on the Apple Store and Google Play. It syncs seamlessly with other apps such as Apple Health, Fitbit, and Google Fit. This allows you to effortlessly track your progress, store and view historical data, and get an accurate picture of where you are on your weight loss/gain journey. Get data for the last week or month so you have an easier time reaching your goals.
The scales feature Step-On Technology, which is always good to see. It comes with four high-precision pressure sensors that automatically calibrate to ensure collected data is accurate and reliable.
One area where the scales really stand out is how many user profiles you can have. These scales offer support for 24 individual users. While that does sound like a lot, it makes the scales an ideal choice for people who run fitness clubs or sports teams.
The Best Branded Body Fat Scales
Salter Ultra Slim Analyser Bathroom Scales, Measure Weight BMI BMR Body Fat Percentage Body Water, Slim 25mm Design, Tough 6mm...
- Featuring an easy to read electronic LCD display, this scale from Salter boasts accurate imperial and metric measures of up to 160 KG
- Versatile and practical, these scales measure weight, body fat, body water, muscle mass, BMI (Body Mass Index) and BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) to truly understand your body
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Salter advertises their scales as being “ultra slim bathroom scales.” They are certainly slim with an elegant design and are chic enough to sit comfortably in any bathroom. Being slim and chic isn’t enough to get them featured on this list, however, so what else about the scales makes them stand out?
Put simply, these scales are really good at measuring body fat. Salter is one of the leading UK brands for bathroom scales. The company has the pedigree and the experience. Salter Housewares dates back to the 1760s. The company has spent literal centuries growing, innovating, and perfecting its offerings.
Salter has earned a reputation for delivering accuracy and precision. All products are held to an incredibly high standard, and anyone who owns a Salter device would argue they meet it. Salter is so confident that you’ll love these scales they offer a full manufacturer’s guarantee good for fifteen years.
These ultra slim scales measure body fat, BMI, and weight. While that isn’t a lot compared to other scales, you get all the basics at least. The scales are vibration activated, meaning you turn them on by tapping or stepping on them. The scales deliver an incredibly accurate reading that makes them worth it.
The scales have room for four users which is enough to get the job done. You and your family should have no problem keeping track of long-term data.
That appears to be who these scales are intended for – individuals and their families. There’s not much use for it in a wider context. Salter does advertise household products though, so it’s hardly surprising the scales are designed for households.
The Salter Ultra Slim Bathroom Scales know their role and perform it perfectly.
How do Body Fat Scales work?
Now we’ve looked at some of the best scales around, let’s address how these scales work. They use bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA).
BIA works by sending a weak electric impulse through your body. The pulse meets different levels of resistance (impedance) from the different tissues and substances in your body. Fat impedes electricity more than muscle and water. A high resistance level, shown by how long it takes the impulse to pass, indicates a high body fat percentage.
This method allows the body fat scales to estimate the relative percentage of different substances and tissues in the body, including muscle, bone, water, and fat, using a mathematical formula that combines the information from the impulse with data about the individual such as height, weight, and gender.
The results might not be the most accurate, but it’s an impressive bit of technology. Even if they can’t give you precise numbers for your body fat levels, they do at least tell you if you’ve lost or gained body fat.
Best Body Fat Scales Review Conclusion
Body fat scales are handy machines to have around if you want an understanding of how much body fat you have. Even if the results are a little off they are at least consistent.
If the scale says you lost or gained, then quite simply, you lost or gained. If you are looking for a way to keep track of body fat, then these scales are for you. Knowing where you stand helps you make dietary and lifestyle changes to better reach your goals.
