Fitbit Scales

[Drew8686]

How effective are the Fitbit scales. It claims to measure Body Fat but how accurate is the measurement? is it worth the purchase?

[HeyBooHey]

I'm wondering the same, I keep looking at them myself

[smhermione · Accepted solution]

I have an Aria and as I've never had my body fat % measured any other way I can't speak to its accuracy, it does tend to be fairly consistant as I've lost weight.  I've lost a total of about 30 lbs with my fitbit and aria and the aria says I've gone from 41% body fat a year and a half ago to 34% now.  Day to day it seems to be fairly consistant.  For me it is a marker of direction and improvement and the actual number doesn't concern me too much.

[tdfischer · Accepted solution]

@smhermione hit the nail on the head!  I've had my Aria for about 3 years and as long as you use body fat % as an indicator to  follow a trend it's a great tool, especially if you use additional apps such as trend weight.  If you are concerned with the actual number itself I suggest a more accurate method of measurement such as water displacement.  Best wishes!

[Drew8686]

Thanks for the advice guys. Think I will go ahead and make the purchase, accuracy aside, it sounds that it has been a beneficial benchmark tool for you.

[JeanneG]

Awesome results! Keep up the good work!

[Voodoogal63]

I just got my scale.  How do you keep track of your bmi on the scale?

[Dominique]

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@Voodoogal63 wrote:

I just got my scale.  How do you keep track of your bmi on the scale?

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Your Aria scale won't tell you about your BMI (only weight and body fat), but it doesn't need to: BMI is displayed in your Fitbit account. Click See More in the Weight tile (lower right corner), or go to https://www.fitbit.com/weight, then select the BMI tab.

[JeanneG]

Make sure you are barefoot when you weigh yourself. The model I have first gives me my weight, then displays my BMI. Hope this helps!
Sent from Grahambo's iPad

[omarumolina]

Do not keep looking about FitBit Aria Scale, It will be a WASTE of money, look for something different OR, try to buy a Insurance for atleast 3 yrs. 

Otherwise your investment will go to trash. Better Buy a standar Scale.

google it.....

you can read more about this device problem were no Support it taking responsability.

>>>>

If your scale displays "SENSING, THINKING, ERR," try removing the batteries for 10 seconds and then reinserting them.

If your scale displays "SENSING…STEP ON…STEP OFF" in a loop without displaying a measurement, remove the batteries for 10 seconds and then reinsert them. Be sure the scale is placed on an even surface and weigh yourself again.

[Marcy]

I moved and had to adjust my router to accept 802.11b format before my Aria would work.  The Aria can certainly be a bit tricky to set up.  

The weight measurement on the Aria seems to be accurate with other scales including my doctor's.  My experience with the body fat % on Aria is that for me it fluctuates widely so I don't find it that useful.  However a Fitbit friend has one and the body fat% is consistent for him. We had a BodPod done to measure our body fat %.  Aria consistently gives him 18% and BodPod gave him 22%.  For me, Aria was telling me 22 to 24% but BodPod says my body fat is 36%. So the Aria may under estimate body fat. 

[lynnbaum]

OK that is if you don't lie to yourself.  If the scale sincs to your computer then you can't tell yourself that you will update your weight after you lose the weight you gained over the weekend.

[gxceb0t]

The strange thing is I started running two months ago.  For the first month, the bf% steadily marched down bit by bit from 28% to 22% - then it started marching steadily back up so now it is back to 27%.  I weigh myself the same time every morning just after waking up.  There has been no weight loss to speak of in this time.

[jennbruhn]

I can honestly say that I had my body fat measured by a more accurate device just last week. It stated I was at 14% and really I can almost see my abs... This morning was the first time i got onto the fitbit scale and it says 40% and now I beginning to think i should send it BACK.

[jennbruhn]

This community and the way we interact is managed by fitbit itself so any of the positive remarks or reviews obviously will be highlighted. As a Professional Fitness Competitior I had my body fat percentage checked last week at my club and I was at 14% body fat the Fit bit scale this morning my first time using it states 40% sorry BUT THIS SCALE IS WAY OFF

[jennbruhn]

You could be possbily running too much. Over time the body will adapt to the amount of cardio one does and if you are a long distance runner the body uses more of your muscle for fuel than fat. If you want to burn fat you must stop running lost distances and do more hiit. or High intensity interval training (sprints, or superset for weight training)

[lynnbaum]

We all know there are ways the fat% can be off.  40 to 14 is a lot.  I weigh myself about same time. Same, same.  We could make a list of things that could alter the reading.  Hydration I know is a big one.  I didn't think this worked so I did it again.  It is like the scale when you get on, get off, get back on.  It was like me this morning.  I was shocked when I was down almost 3 pounds.  I must of eaten something eally salty the day before.

[lynnbaum]

We all know there are ways the fat% can be off.  40 to 14 is a lot.  I weigh myself about same time. Same, same.  We could make a list of things that could alter the reading.  Hydration I know is a big one.

[franksj]

Hi Jennifer!  

Great to have you here.  Did you put your scale into Lean mode?  It sounds like the setting for you.

Also, the scale calculates fat % by passing a small current through your feet and measuring the amount of impedance (resistence) your body provides.  I imagine such a calculation has quite a number of assumptions that may or may not be true for you. I wonder how such a reading could change based on hydration and mineral levels.  

I'd start with the lean setting and then use that as an indicator of a trend rather than an absolutely accurate measurement.

14% - Wow, very well done.  I'll bet you are stunning.

Best,

Jim

[yountdw]

Has the Scale or the app been recalibrated recently.  I jumped overnight from my longtime measurement of 19.x% body fat, to 23.x, and now it is consistently measuring at the new BF%.  I don't know how I could jump 4% overnight if it were not something about the scale of the app.  I did replace my batteries at about the same time; could that affect the measurement?