Choose the scale that's right for you.
A bathroom scale is a fairly simple piece of equipment, often with just one objective: to measure the amount a person weighs. Thanks to advances in technology, bathroom scales can tell you more than just your weight. Different models offer different bells and whistles, and prices range from a little to a lot of money. When considering which scale to purchase, look for one that fits both your needs and budget.
Analog or Digital
While you can choose the style that you prefer, Consumer Reports magazine's February 2010 edition recommends because their extensive tests found digital scales to be more accurate. Conversely, while digital scales have an advantage in that their readings often light up, making them easier to see and a good choice for older folks or those with poor eyesight, a key advantage to analog scales is that they don't need batteries.
Body Fat Scales
Many scales feature an option that measures body fat. While it is certainly good to know your body fat percentage for health reasons, Consumer Reports has found body fat scales to be inaccurate and inconsistent in their measurements. This may be a feature not worth paying for, but avid weight-watchers or exercisers may not be able to resist a scale offering body fat information, whether it's accurate or not..
Memory
Some scales have a "brain" which stores data on different people in your household. For example, after you enter in your height, age and gender, the scale not only uses that information to calculate your Body Mass Index, but it also stores the information for your next weigh-in. It stores information for more than one person, ensuring that it doesn't get your spouse's height, weight and BMI confused with yours, and vice versa, making it a good choice for households with more than one person.
Other Considerations
Scales are available in a wide variety of sizes, styles and colors. Choose one that suits your bathroom's decor and is sized to fit in the space you have allotted for a scale. Also, choose a scale with a weight range that is suitable for your weight. Some scales even "talk" to you, announcing your weight. While this might sound like a gimmick, it is actually very helpful to older people or those with poor eyesight.
Tags: digital scales, more than, your weight, Consumer Reports, good choice