The Best BMI Scale

Buying Guide

If you’re embarking on a fitness journey, you probably already know that there are plenty of apps to help get you started. You can monitor your steps, watch your calorie intake and even link up and compete with others. For some, a fitness app can gamify the weight loss experience, letting them share their journey with friends, relatives and even strangers.

But an important part of gauging your progress is tracking exactly how your body measurements are changing over the days, weeks and months. That’s where a scale comes in. Sure, you can step on a traditional bathroom scale and get the pounds, but if you’re using an app, there are tools that can take you so much further.

The key feature in many BMI scales is its Bluetooth connectivity. Just step on the scale and your measurements are automatically sent to the app on your phone. With many of these scales, you can also link to your favorite fitness app. So instead of having one app for your measurements and another to track your steps and food intake, you’ll have everything in one place.

But you don’t have to rely on an app. If you aren’t a smartphone person, or you simply prefer to keep the information in your bathroom, you can find BMI scales that contain the information to an attached screen. These scales save the information for a prolonged period, allowing you to do a quick review of previous days and weeks if you want to track your progress.

BMI scales often go beyond measuring your body mass index. They can also look at things like body weight, BMI, body fat, body water, skeletal muscle, fat-free body weight, subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, muscle mass, bone mass, protein, basal metabolism and body age. All this information gives you a far more complete picture of your overall health than just seeing your weight in pounds and ounces.

What to Look For

• BMI scales work through the use of sensors. Those sensors are just under your feet and use something called bioelectrical impedance, sending an electrical current up your leg and across your pelvis to determine the level of resistance caused by body fat. The more resistance, the higher the estimated fat percentage in your body.
• One thing to keep in mind with any scale is that scales are never 100 percent accurate. They’re designed to give you a general estimate of your weight and other factors. It’s important to get to know your own body and understand where you’re at your best, no matter what an app says. A medical professional can help you determine exactly where you should be to be at your healthiest.
• The best time to weigh yourself is very early in the morning. Empty your bladder, then step onto the scale before you shower, eat, exercise or even enjoy that morning cup of coffee. This will ensure you’re getting the purest measurements available.
• App compatibility is essential. Most BMI scales hook up to their own app, but they also can transfer the information to your favorite fitness app. Make sure your favorite app is supported before you buy. Many BMI scales support Fitbit, Google Fit and Apple Health, at a minimum.
• If there are multiple members in your household who may want to use the scale, find a scale that supports that. Most BMI scales that support multiple users will send information only to the app of the person currently weighing.
• Some of these scales can have a bit of a learning curve. Once it’s set up, though, everything should be automatic from there. Your app will likely walk you through the setup steps.
• Although you can share your weight information as part of your competition with others, you can control the data others see. If you prefer to keep this private, you can use the information solely to track your own progress.

BMI scales are sold with different weight capacities, so you’ll need to check that the scale you’re interested in is able to meet your needs. Some models only go up to 250 pounds, while others can handle as much as 450 pounds. There are also models that can measure children as small as 9 pounds, should you wish to buy a BMI scale that’s family-friendly.

It’s important to note that the accuracy of a BMI scale can be impacted by certain factors. These include the age of an individual, the gender of the individual, the height of the individual, whether the person is pregnant and where a person tends to store their body fat.

When reading your BMI results, it’s important to understand each of the measurements to know whether the results indicate you’re in good health or whether you have a specific area that could use improvement. Here are a few of the measurements that are most commonly seen with this type of scale.

• Body Mass Index (BMI): BMI is used to provide a quick snapshot of your overall health. It takes into consideration a person’s height, as someone who is taller will naturally weigh more than someone who is of a shorter stature. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has a chart that you can reference once the scale provides you with your BMI number.
• Body Fat Percentage: To arrive at your body fat percentage, you have to divide your total mass of fat by your total body mass and then multiply the result by 100. The American Council on Exercise has a body percentage chart for men and women, so you can see where your results fall on the chart.
• Body Water Percentage: Water is vital to life, so it’s a good idea to check your body’s water percentage. IvyHealth lists a general healthy range of 45 percent to 60 percent for women and 50 percent to 65 percent for men.
• Metabolic Age: Metabolic age is another indicator of your physical health. If your BMI scale gives you a metabolic age that is at or below your real age, your body is said to be in good health. Should the scale come back with a metabolic age this is above your real age, your body is said to be having some health issues. Exercising and changing your diet are the best ways to lower your metabolic age.
• Muscle Mass: When it comes to muscle mass measurements, you want your numbers to be on the higher end. Having a high muscle mass not only results in fewer illnesses, but also means that your body is burning more calories at rest. Healthline has a chart you can consult to see where your measurement falls. Use the chart for your gender and then look next to your age range to view your target numbers.