• Carnelian@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    59
    ·
    26 days ago

    Those things are totally bogus if it makes you feel any better. Changes in body composition are not reflected properly via bioelectric impedance.

    Truth is every bf% measurement is pretty much just a guess with a huge range of error. Far more practical to find some other measurement to track, such as athletic performance (lifting, cardio times) while keeping a loose eye on your weight

    • RiQuY@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      edit-2
      26 days ago

      Are you saying that digital scales used to measure the weight of a person are inaccurate or am I mixing topics? This is new to me. Why measuring weight should be hard/inaccurate?

      And why analogic scales (if they can be called like that) are better?

      • Carnelian@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        8
        ·
        26 days ago

        The other response is correct. Many “smart” scales claim to be able to tell you not only your weight, but also what percentage of your weight is lean mass vs body fat.

        They are not accurate in that respect and should never be used

        Normal scales that just tell you your weight, whether digital or analogue, are generally correct and reliable

        • Rob Bos@lemmy.ca
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          4
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          26 days ago

          They’re not accurate but I think they can at least track trends consistently. A clock that’s five hours ahead still tells you how much time has passed relative to itself. Similarly a scale might tell you what direction your fat level is trending.

          • Carnelian@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            7
            ·
            26 days ago

            I think they can at least track trends consistently

            I’m sorry to say, but they can’t. It would be one thing if, for you as an individual, the error was always consistent (e.g., “always five hours ahead”). Then at least you would be able to track trends over time. Sadly, the technology itself is not reliable in that way and should never be relied on to track trends.

            • Rob Bos@lemmy.ca
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              1
              ·
              26 days ago

              Perhaps not. My subjective experience of my Withings scale is that the reported fat percentage has at least remained where I’ve expected given my general activity level. ie, fat percentage goes up when I’m sedentary, down when I’m active.

              But it’s more a curiosity than a useful metric regardless.

              • Carnelian@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                2
                arrow-down
                1
                ·
                26 days ago

                I strongly encourage you to disregard the bf% information that scale provides you, even if it is only a passing curiosity. It can and will taint your general understanding of the body and your relationship with fitness. I would recommend even disabling it entirely if possible, and would even recommend replacing it with a non-“smart” scale if the option is at all economical for you. I’m happy to explore the subject further and suggest alternatives if you so desire

                • Rob Bos@lemmy.ca
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  1
                  ·
                  26 days ago

                  Honestly I don’t care enough. If I happen to be in the interface I’ll probably turn it off, sure. It doesn’t inform any decisions, I barely register that the number exists.

    • LoudWaterHombre@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      10
      ·
      25 days ago

      The smart scale acts like it can determine your fat and muscle weight. The joke is about not being able to day you have heavy bones because the scale tells you it’s all fat.

  • Anomalocaris@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    21 days ago

    bad ideas I don’t need, not want, but still want:

    CHATGPT scale.

    instead of giving you your weight, it’ll burn you or call you out.