Bathroom Scales

Should You Trust Bathroom Scales?

Bathroom scales can be found in almost every home. Some are tucked away and gathering dust while others are visited every day in order to monitor weight gains. Since our weight is usually a very sensitive subject, we really put a lot of faith into bathroom scales. A fluctuation of numbers could set us on a path to worry and diet or cause joy. But should be really trust these numbers?

First of all, let’s look at the accuracy of scales. For those who have old mechanical scales sitting at home, there is a slim chance that an accurate weight reading is being made. That is because the scales work on a spring system. The springs gain elasticity over time and no longer give correct readings. Even digital scales can be inaccurate though if a problem occurs with the switchboard inside. A good way to judge the accuracy of digital bathroom scales is to weigh yourself several times in a row and see if the same weight is given.

Next, keep in mind that digital scales just measure weight- not water retention, muscle mass or fat. Since muscle weighs more than fat, an overweight person who starts to exercise might actually lose fat but gain weight. That is why bathroom scales cannot be trusted to give us an accurate reading of what is going on in our bodies. For people wanting to weigh fat and not weight, body fat bathroom scales are necessary. These are much more expensive but they can be trusted to tell us how all our exercise (or lack of it) is measuring up. Most of us don’t think much about our bathroom scales. If you are starting a diet, exercise program or need to monitor body changes, then it is about time you started to think about what your scale is telling you.