Body Fat % Lies: Which Scales Are Actually Lying to You (And Which Tell the Truth)

Did you get any replies that helped answer your question? I came across the post while searching the same topic because I'm also looking to buy one and would like to hear from people who have actually used them.

I bought one and like it, but I have not checked the numbers against anything else.

I mostly watch the trends rather than the exact numbers, and I look at changes over at least a month. Even DEXA has around a five percent error on fat percentage for any one person, so expecting a scale to beat that is likely to cause frustration.

A simple measuring tape gives the real answer.

There are several comparisons already in the thread. One person linked a post where they tested their scale against a DEXA scan done within minutes of each other and the results were fairly close.

Honestly I think they are all pretty bad. You can find plenty of people who swear by any given model and just as many who hate it. I tried one after seeing decent reviews and it was fine for weight but way off on a DEXA comparison. The trends also did not line up with reality. They are mildly interesting but not very useful because the technology is not there yet.

I own several different models and have been scanning weekly on all of them. I plan to do a DEXA later this week and then measure on each scale right after. One lost its history so it will only be a single data point, but the others should let me compare variance over the last few months.

Consumer scales all seem to be junk. The readings are basically linear. I use the one at my gym and it might be a little more accurate.

DEXA scans are considered the gold standard. Some colleges offer them for much less than clinics. I did both a gym test and a DEXA within an hour and the gym result was ten percent lower on body fat. The technician explained the gym device is not accurate on the trunk area, which matched where I carry fat.

I was going to get a newer version of the scale I already have, but reviews comparing it to DEXA made me decide against it. I will keep using the current one just to watch trends and do a DEXA later in the year.

I read a review of the technology used in these scales and they are all at least ten percent or more off.

I got a DEXA and then measured on each of my scales within twenty or thirty minutes. The technician noted the DEXA weight would read about a kilogram low because it does not account for water. I normally weigh first thing in the morning, so there was a noticeable difference between the morning and midday readings. One scale showed a clear change between seven a.m. and noon, but it still ended up closest to the DEXA on most measures.

Great info, thanks a lot. Out of curiosity, why do you own so many scales? I do not have one yet and am thinking about buying my first soon.