How to Find Your Weight Without Using a Scale
Sadeugra/Getty Images
Like virtually all gadgets and gear these days, scales have become seriously technologically advanced. We're getting used to having more and more data about ourselves readily available, from the calories we've burned and consumed, to our average resting heart rate, to how many steps we've taken each day, so it's no surprise that learning your weight is only the beginning of what these "smart" scales can reveal.
But even with smart scales, weighing yourself shouldn't be about obsessing over the numbers, says Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics spokesperson Heather Mangieri, RDN, CSSD, LDN, CEO of Nutrition CheckUp, a nutrition consulting practice in Pittsburgh. Rather, it should be about figuring out what you want to track, finding a device that helps you do so, and monitoring your progress. "Tracking with a smart scale can help you see whether or not you're moving toward your goals," she says.
According to a January 2016 University of Manchester study, these smart scales can help you get there. The researchers—funded in part by the scale manufacturer Withings, it should be noted—found that the more regularly users stepped on and otherwise engaged with their smart scales, the more weight they lost. (Lose up to 15 pounds WITHOUT dieting with Eat Clean to Get Lean, our 21-day clean-eating meal plan.)
Here are a few models that may help you drop a few pounds.
1 of 14
Fitbit Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale
This scale ($105; amazon.com) calculates your body mass index based on your height and weight. It also measures body composition, a slightly different calculation, using bio-impedance analysis (BIA). Essentially, this is a way of measuring body fat by sending a (safe!) electric current through the body and determining how much resistance that current meets along the way, Mangieri explains. Body fat has a high resistance compared to other tissues, she says. You can connect the Aria to your home Wi-Fi network to seamlessly sync your regular weigh-ins with your Fitbit tracker and app so you can see graphs and charts of your progress toward your goals.
2 of 14
Philips Connected Body Analysis Scale
This model ($100; amazon.com) also calculates BMI and uses BIA to tabulate your body composition. "Having both measurements is ideal," Mangieri says, "because if you're an athlete with more muscle mass, you might have a higher BMI, but that doesn't necessarily mean there's an overweight or obesity issue." The scale also automatically syncs with the Philips health app, so you can see your progress on the go.
MORE:9 Proven Ways To Lose Stubborn Belly Fat
3 of 14
Withings Body Composition Wi-Fi Scale
In addition to weight and body fat, this scale ($104; amazon.com) will also estimate your muscle and bone mass. Many scales are programmed to plug in the details calculated by BIA to a complicated equation that can spit out numbers for measurements like lean muscle mass and bone mass, Mangieri says. Just keep in mind that we're all unique. Equations are as close as possible to one-size-fits-all, but they're still more of an estimate than a hard-and-fast answer, she says. This scale can also give you a local weather forecast to help you plan your day.
4 of 14
Garmin Index Smart Scale
You can measure weight, BMI, body fat, bone mass, muscle mass, and how much of you is plain water with this scale ($150; amazon.com). If you're going to look at that water percentage number, Mangieri says, make sure you're weighing yourself first thing in the morning after you've urinated. (Once a week is often enough, she says.) As many as 16 different user accounts can be recognized by the smart scale—many other devices can only accommodate up to eight.
MORE:15 Teeny Tiny Changes To Lose Weight Faster
5 of 14
Pivotal Living Bluetooth Smart Scale
This device ($46; amazon.com) also recognizes up to 16 users and tracks weight, BMI, muscle mass, body fat percentage, and syncs with the Pivotal Living fitness tracker. It also calculates basal metabolic rate (BMR), a measure of how many calories you'd burn even if you did absolutely nothing for an entire day. "There's not much you can do to change that number, but knowing it can help you keep in mind how many calories you're burning on top of it," says Mangieri. "We have the ability to expend more energy if we do more activity," Mangieri says, "and drive that total number up." (Follow these eating rules to rev your metabolism.)
6 of 14
QardioBase Wireless Smart Scale
This sleek scale ($141; amazon.com) literally cheers you on as you chase your goals with smiley faces next to your measurements. In addition to weight, BMI, and body composition numbers, the device can also be switched into pregnancy mode to help you monitor your bump week by week.
8 of 14
YunMai Premium
The 10 measurements possible with this device ($70; amazon.com) include something called body age, essentially an estimate of health effects of things like your body fat percentage and lean mass percentage, Mangieri says. It syncs with a free app and recognizes up to 16 users.
9 of 14
Tanita Ironman Body Composition Monitor
This official Ironman product ($148; amazon.com) definitely has athletes in mind with its body fat, BMR, bone mass, water percentage and other measurements, but it can only store data for up to four users. It will even give you a physique rating on a scale of 1 to 9 (if you're into that kinda thing) for another way to track your progress.
10 of 14
Weight Gurus Wi-Fi Smart Connected Body Fat Scale
You can sync this scale ($80; amazon.com) with a number of popular tracking apps like Fitbit, Apple Health, and the Weight Gurus' own version to track weight, body fat, lean mass, water weight, and bone mass. A portion of the proceeds support an organization called Love146, which works to end child trafficking.
12 of 14
Polar Balance
This scale ($100; amazon.com) syncs with a Polar fitness tracker and app to set activity and eating goals. The app is packed with motivational tips for reaching those benchmarks and can establish new goals as you continue to achieve. "Syncing with a smartphone can be a good wakeup call for people," Mangieri says of smart scales in general. "In the middle of the day you might look at your data and realize you need to take a 20-minute walk!"
MORE:How To Start Walking When You Have 50+ Pounds To Lose
13 of 14
Wahoo Balance Bluetooth Smart Scale
14 of 14
Koogeek Smart Health Scale
Sixteen users can also step on this scale ($60; amazon.com), benefitting from BMI, body fat, lean muscle mass, bone mass, BMR, and more measurements. You can easily track your progress with the free accompanying app for Apple or Android. There's even a setting that enables you to track your baby's weight.
How to Find Your Weight Without Using a Scale
Source: https://www.prevention.com/weight-loss/g20472182/scales-that-measure-more-than-your-weight/