Accurate Bathroom Scales?

• 

  holdenmg on 02/05/2022 - 13:49

  +7

  If you use Beer instead of water and just drink the Beer, you won't care what you weigh after a bit…
  (I'm glad we talked). :+)

• 

  apsilon on 02/05/2022 - 13:56

  +3

  I don't think you'll get anything cheap that will accurately display weight while you add to it. If you step on, take a reading, step off and pick up your water bottle and step back on you'll like get far more accurate results. While I'm at it, accuracy isn't that important as long as it's consistent so you can track the trend which is what you should really be looking at. Also don't weigh yourself more than once a week and try and do it same day same time and that'll give you the best trend to take note of.

  In regards to weight changing depending on how you stand, yep they will so just stand naturally in the centre. If you lean in any particular direction or move around it will effect the reading.

  • 

    Settero on 02/05/2022 - 14:36

    Yeah I don't think this is true , pretty sure they have some sort of memory in them to avoid minor variances when trying multiple times over short period.

    You don't sound like you have size 13 feet with that last portion of your response , I feel OP's pain

    • 

      apsilon on 02/05/2022 - 14:43

      pretty sure they have some sort of memory in them to avoid minor variances when trying multiple times over short period.

      Yeah some probably do. Mine doesn't and it only stays on for a couple of seconds after it displays the reading so you can take another reading pretty quick though you really shouldn't need to.

      Nah, I'm only 11.5 but if you can't stand upright and still for a few seconds then you may have other issues to worry about before weight.

      • 

        Grazz989 on 02/05/2022 - 15:24

        It's just hard to stand exactly the same every time, especially with days or a week in between each go. Very minor differences in where I put my feet or e.g. leaning forward to get a better look at the reading created +/-1kg differences.

        • 

          apsilon on 02/05/2022 - 15:52

          @Grazz989: If you really have that much trouble put marks on top that you can use to align your feet but if you're going to move around then the weight is going to vary, there's no avoiding that.

          • 

            Grazz989 on 02/05/2022 - 16:48

            @apsilon: I suppose, but it would also be nice to know how much I actually weigh with more than a few kg uncertainty in the measurement, even if it's consistent.

            • 

              apsilon on 02/05/2022 - 17:21

              @Grazz989: Does it really matter? If you really want precise, accurate weight then look at certified commercial scales instead of bathroom scales but you'll need to get them checked and calibrated periodically and they're not going to be $20.

              I have some cheap scales I got from ebay. I have no idea if the weight they display is actually accurate but I am certain they're consistent. I don't care if the weight they're showing me is out by a couple of kg as long as it's out the same amount every time because it's the trend that's important to health.

              • 

                Grazz989 on 02/05/2022 - 22:06

                @apsilon: In the year of 2022 do we really need to go to the expense of commercial gear just to weigh oneself without a few kg inaccuracies?

                I mean if you're absolutely sure that's correct then I'll begrudgingly believe you but I've never had this issue with my parents' 30 year old set, and I'd buy one just like them but those weren't built in China and that means they're looooong gone.

                • 

                  apsilon on 03/05/2022 - 08:26

                  @Grazz989: If you want 100% accurate guaranteed weight then yes, you'll need something that's been calibrated and certified. You'll get $20 ones that are accurate enough for bathroom scales but most will be at least +/- 100g but apparently that's not good enough for you. I can also guarantee your parents ones weren't 100% accurate either. They would've been the old dial type and over time those mechanical scales deteriorate fairly quickly. The cheap digital scales you get today would almost certainly be more accurate.

                  FYI digital scales use a strain gauge to measure deflection in a beam. That's why moving around and standing differently will give different readings because you're deflecting that beam differently. They also only read to one decimal which automatically gives it a variance and because it's a strain gauge even ambient temperate will cause expansion and contraction to a tiny degree giving further variation.

                  I still don't see why it's so important to know your weight to the exact gram. Your weight will naturally vary and change throughout the day as well as day to day so that reading is only accurate at that moment in time anyway.

  • 

    Grazz989 on 02/05/2022 - 15:21

    Yep - I did in fact step on step off to perform the tests.

    And while I appreciate that consistency is key, I can't really trust it to be more than +/- 400g randomly. Like I said, it was exactly 400ml added but the amount it changed was well under that … Doesn't seem consistent to me.

• 

  iamherenow on 02/05/2022 - 14:25

  my digital scales hold the measured weight for a period afterwards, and won't change if you weigh yourself again too soon. you need to wait a good few minutes for another separate measurement.

  • 

    Grazz989 on 02/05/2022 - 15:20

    Yep! I took that into account for the experiment.

• 

  greenplastix on 13/05/2022 - 22:51

  El cheapo scales from Target have always been fine - the technology has been around for decades. Just because the number is high, doesn't mean it's incorrect. On a practical level, there is no need to get accuracy to +/- 400gr which is a fluctuation, not a result of longer term lifestyle/health impacts.

• 

  AddNinja on 12/06/2022 - 10:52

  +1

  I’m sorry no one helped you. Accurate scales (to within 20g) should be available. I’m looking for some myself.

  • 

    Grazz989 on 12/06/2022 - 23:19

    Yeah it was really bizarre how everyone either assumed I was testing wrong (I wasn't), or seemingly taking it personally that someone would ever want scales that are both consistent and accurate to better than half a kilo +/- … I plan to buy a slightly fancier model from Target and hope that the extra cost is worth it.

  • 

    apsilon on 13/06/2022 - 07:17

    Just because they didn't like the answer doesn't mean no one helped.

    • 

      AddNinja on 14/06/2022 - 07:10

      True - there some good advice offered. But the OP had to look beyond a fair amount snark e.g. “ … +/- 100g but apparently that's not good enough for you” and many people telling them that there is no need for accuracy in bathroom scales.

      I kind of expect this tone when people ask questions challenging the life choices others take - was surprised to see it when the OP is asking for reasonably accurate bathroom scales.

      • 

        apsilon on 14/06/2022 - 08:10

        Bathroom scales only go to 0.1kg ie +/- 100g. OP wanted to the exact gram and be able to move around on them without the readout fluctuating hence bathroom scales aren't good enough for what they want. There's no snark there, just fact.

        • 

          AddNinja on 14/06/2022 - 08:22

          @apsilon: Thanks apsilon - have a good day.