How to Buy a Bathroom Scale

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

05 Jan 2008 06:51 PM

Is one of your New Year's Resolutions to lose weight? Do you have a good scale that will help you with your goal? Today's scales have so many different features, including calculators for body fat percentages. Do you know which features are most important to you? Read on to get the skinny on how to buy a bathroom scale.

Analog or Digital?

An analog scale is the traditional scale that we all grew up with. You step on it and the dial responds to the pressure of your weight until the pointer reachers the right number. Analog scales do not require batteries, are very durable and inexpensive. The downside to this type of scale is that the number can be hard to read and can be fudged by the user. An analog scale usually doesn't come with fancy features.

A digital scale comes in a really large array of styles and design, with easy-to-read displays. Weight can often be read in tiny increments, so if you want to know if you gained a quarter of a pound, then digital is the way to go. Digital scales can be pricey and they do require batteries to work.

Digital Features

Here are some of the features and options you can choose in a digital scale.

Automatic on/off feature. Automatic shut off is standard on digital scales, but not all models will actually turn on when you step on them.

Multi-user memory allows you to store and recall the weight readings of different family members. Long life lithium batteries or traditional alkaline batteries.

Multi-load cell scales take readings from four different points on the scale instead of just using a traditional single load.

Body fat calculator that performs its calculation based on electrical signal resistance and information you input, such as your sex, age and height. Many experts don't endorse this technology as accurate.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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