Are Smart Weigh Scales Accurate?

Healthcare and veterinary professionals, are you still relying on analog scales to calculate body weight?

Stop. As not only do these scales increase the margin for human error, they don’t provide you with other valuable information, such as body fat percentage, bone mass, BMI, and so on.

Why should you waste time calculating all these things separately when you can use one tool to get the job done?

What’s that tool, you ask?

Well, smart scales, of course!

We’re sure you’ve used them before or at least heard of them.

But are they worth the investment? Are they accurate? And how exactly do they work?

To satiate your curiosity, we put together this guide to answer all these questions and more.

More Than a Regular Scale

Smart weigh scales aren’t your average scale. In fact, these scales can help you calculate caloric intake, measure weight, body fat, muscle composition, and hydration during a single weigh-in, and even measure bone mass and BMI. They can also remember previous readings to help track weight loss and detect differences in body fat.

There is even a difference in the material used to make each smart scale. Some are made of glass, others of stainless steel. The stainless steel models provide a different aesthetic look while providing a wider platform and better stability for users to enjoy.

How Do Smart Weigh Scales Work?

Smart scales operate with the assistance of impedance sensors. When a patient steps on the scale, a low-level electrical current is sent up their leg and across their pelvis to measure the amount of resistance from body fat.

Then this value is factored into age, height, and weight to estimate the patient’s body composition.

As a general rule, higher resistance indicates a greater fat percentage, as fat contains less water than muscle, making it more difficult for a current to pass through.

The science behind smart weigh scales maintains readings within 1% of one pound of a person’s total body weight. Any margin of error on a smart scale is small.

Depending on the type of smart scale you have, the readings can link up to your smartphones, smartwatch, fitness apps, and any other device you might have. In other words, it’s not your grandma’s manual scale anymore.

Smart Weigh Scales Can Be Fiddly

The only caveat is that these scales aren’t perfect; they’re estimates. Even so, they’re a pretty great way to see what’s going on internally.

But to do so and achieve the finest outcomes, it’ll take a little fiddling around.

Before taking a reading, you must reset the scale to zero. Otherwise, everything will be off, and you won’t obtain the most accurate reading. Also, if the scale has been damaged, the accuracy may be affected.

How to Use a Smart Weigh Scale for Maximum Accuracy?

In principle, smart weigh scales are easy to use. Simply have the patient step on the scale, and it will calculate the body weight and estimated fat percentage.

When on the scale, instruct patients to must stand the right way. Readings can be inaccurate if a person’s feet aren’t entirely on the scale. We recommend that the patient stand straight and remain as motionless as possible when using the scale. Leaning to one side or too far forward or backward might result in a different reading than standing steady.

So if you follow these guidelines, there’s no reason why a smart scale won’t produce a fairly accurate reading. Naturally, some variables can affect your results, such as gender, where the patient stores fat in their body, age, stature, resistance training, and so on.

To guarantee that your reading is as accurate as possible, always ensure the patient’s back is straight, they don’t bend their knees, and their feet are slightly apart.

What About Carpeted Surfaces?

Like other types of scales, the smart scale must be placed on a firm surface as this will optimize reading accuracy. It is not advised to use the scale on a carpet or rug or with anything between the hard floor and the bottom of the scale.

How Long Does a Smart Weigh Scale Last?

When a scale is properly maintained, it may provide years of productivity and reliability. However, there will come a time when you will notice the scale isn’t operating well and will ultimately need to be replaced. Keep an eye out for the following signs:

• inconsistent scale readings,
• inaccurate readings between different scales,
• the display readability is impaired,
• the reading won’t fix on a number,
• there is rust or other visible deterioration.

Who Should Avoid a Smart Weigh Scale?

These scales are suitable for the vast majority of people. However, those with pacemakers or other medical devices, as well as pregnant women, should not use them. This is because the small electric current used to calculate body fat may interfere with pacemakers and be harmful to pregnant women.

If you or your patient is concerned about them using the scale, always consult the instruction manual before use.

Smart Scales Are Helpful, but Not Foolproof

Overall, smart scales are fairly accurate if used correctly, and the patient is relatively average for their age, height, and gender.

With that in mind, the readings shouldn’t be taken at face value. Consider the results as approximate estimates and advice helpful, but don’t rely on them as your sole indicator of a patient’s overall health.

After all, they only give you the overall proportion of fat in the body, not where it is stored. For example, if the bulk of a patient’s fat is concentrated around their midsection, a concerning factor as this can increase the risk of developing certain health conditions, you’d be none the wiser.

Therefore, while they are an integral part of the checkup, there shouldn’t eliminate other elements, such as blood work, pressure monitoring, and so on.

Have you decided a smart weigh scale is worth the investment for your clinic?

Great! Why not check out our smart scales today? Our Healthweigh line of products has several options for your clinic needs. Alternatively, if you want more information, give us a call. We’d be pleased to discuss all your smart scale needs.