Did you know that more than one-third of adults in the US suffer from obesity? This translates to over 69 million Americans with a weight above the healthy range. To understand this on an individual level, an affordable and simple solution is a body composition scale. This type of scale measures your body composition, or the percentage of fat, bone, and muscle in your body.
Let’s explore the benefits of a body composition scale and give you a few options if you’re ready to use one at home.
What Is a Body Composition Scale?
A body composition scale, or “smart scale,” is a device that uses electrical resistance to measure your body fat percentage. Another name for these scales are bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) machines. BIA machines work by sending a small electrical current through your body. The current flows more easily through muscle than it does through fat and this is how it’s able to measure both.
What Does a Body Composition Scale Measure?
Besides your weight, a body composition scale measures different body metrics depending on the model. The most common things that these scales measure include:
- Body fat percentage: The amount of fat in your body as a percentage of your total weight
- Body mass index (BMI): A measure of your body fat based on height and weight
- Body water percentage: The amount of water in your body as a percentage of your total weight
- Bone mass: The amount of bone in your body as a percentage of your total weight
- Lean muscle mass: The amount of muscle in your body as a percentage of your total weight
What Are the Benefits of a Home Body Composition Scale?
There are many benefits of owning a body composition scale, including:
Understanding Your Body Composition
A body composition scale gives you crucial insight into your body’s composition and your health. You’ll get information about key body metrics like your BMI, muscle mass, bone mass, and a lot more. Then, you can use these figures to track your health goals.
Keeping Obesity at Bay
Measuring your body fat percentage with a body composition scale is a good way to keep track of your weight and fat percentage. So then if you see your body fat percentage increasing, you can take steps to bring it back down.
Measuring the Effectiveness of Diets & Exercise Programs
Whether you’re trying to lose weight or gain muscle, a body composition scale can help you measure the effectiveness of your diet and exercise program. By tracking your body composition over time, you can see if what you’re doing is working.
Synchronizing With Other Smart Devices for Easy Tracking
Some body composition scales can sync with other smart devices, like fitness trackers and smartphone apps. This allows you to track your progress across multiple devices.
3 Body Composition Scales for You to Consider
If you’re looking for a body composition scale that will give you accurate readings, here are some great options:
The Withings Body Composition Scale Is a Comprehensive Health Companion
The Withings Body Comp Smart Scale is a Wi-Fi-enabled smart scale loaded with Health+ programs to improve its data collection to help you work on your health. It has in-built coaching that allows you to set goals, see trends, and earn rewards.
Some of the scale’s unique features include:
- 12-month Health+ subscription
- Up to 15 months of battery life
- Advanced heart health tracking
- Electrodermal activity score
Pros
- It’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled
- Allows up to eight users
Cons
- It’s more pricey than the other options
Get Full Body Insights on Your Eufy Smart Scale With Smartphone App
The Eufy Smart Scale C1 body composition scale is a budget-friendly option. Plus, it’s easy to set up and use, making it ideal for beginners. Once you enter your name, height, and gender, you’re good to go.
Another helpful feature is that this scale connects to the Eufy Life app and third party apps such as:
- Google Fit
- Fitbit
- Apple Health
Pros
- Easy to set up and use
- Small dimensions make it great for small spaces
- Its mobile app has an intuitive user interface
Cons
- It can be hard to understand some graphic reports
Wyze Scale X Is a Versatile Body Composition Scale for All Your Family Members
The Wyze Scale X features modes for pregnant women, babies, pets, and luggage. This budget scale comes equipped with a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 22 months and supports a maximum of eight users. The Wyze Scale X also features Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity for quick and efficient data transfer.
The Wyze Scale X provides 13 comprehensive metrics, including:
- Body weight
- Body fat
- Muscle mass
- Body water
Pros
- 13 body composition metrics
- Rechargeable
- Baby, pet, and pregnant modes
- Affordable
Cons
- Limited information on exercise and nutritional advice
Prioritize Your Health With a Home Body Composition Scale
A home body composition scale is a valuable tool that can help you understand your body, keep your weight in check, and measure the effectiveness of your diet and exercise program. Luckily, there’s a scale out there for every budget and lifestyle.
