Weight watchers scale...is it accurate

So I have this weight watchers digital scale from Wal-mart (or target)...

It measures body fat as well as weight.

well my body fat is always 19.5-21.5%

Now I know I am not a "sexy abs" kindas guy, but I am fairly scrwany besides my gut....

Does anyone have experience with these home scales and how accurate the body fat readings are????

I am willing to accept 20% BF if that is correct, but I do not want to be going off a inflated measurment.

Recap: are these home scales accurate (especially the WW scale)??
Also based off of my few progress pics I have up, does my body composition look like 20% BF?

Thanks in advance all!!!!

I have the weight watchers scale, and for the most part it is very accurate. 2 things that affect the accuracy of this scale, is your internal hydration. Make sure you drink plenty of water daily, and it seems to make the scale more accurate.....
Also sweaty feet seem to change the reading. I have weighed in after a work out with sweaty feet, then dried them off and my % changed a little bit. For the most part they are accurate within 1-3%. Just remember to use it as a guide. You can't measure on the scale, then use a different scale or calipers as a comparison. If you use the same scale week in, and week out, if you see the numbers going down you are heading in the right direction, if the bf% #'s are increasing it usually means you are going the wrong way.

[QUOTE=DJStevieRay;316468221]I have the weight watchers scale, and for the most part it is very accurate. 2 things that affect the accuracy of this scale, is your internal hydration. Make sure you drink plenty of water daily, and it seems to make the scale more accurate.....
Also sweaty feet seem to change the reading. I have weighed in after a work out with sweaty feet, then dried them off and my % changed a little bit. For the most part they are accurate within 1-3%. Just remember to use it as a guide. You can't measure on the scale, then use a different scale or calipers as a comparison. If you use the same scale week in, and week out, if you see the numbers going down you are heading in the right direction, if the bf% #'s are increasing it usually means you are going the wrong way.[/QUOTE]

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I never realized the sweaty feet thing!
I weigh myself in the morning after bathroom before breakfast.

okay so the 20% BF range could be right on....

Anyone else?? Keep it coming!

[QUOTE=DJStevieRay;316468221]I have the weight watchers scale, and for the most part it is very accurate. 2 things that affect the accuracy of this scale, is your internal hydration. Make sure you drink plenty of water daily, and it seems to make the scale more accurate.....
Also sweaty feet seem to change the reading. I have weighed in after a work out with sweaty feet, then dried them off and my % changed a little bit. For the most part they are accurate within 1-3%. Just remember to use it as a guide. You can't measure on the scale, then use a different scale or calipers as a comparison. If you use the same scale week in, and week out, if you see the numbers going down you are heading in the right direction, if the bf% #'s are increasing it usually means you are going the wrong way.[/QUOTE]

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I noticed in your signature you are part of a body transformation group...do you find it productive to be a part of? I do not have much experience with the groups yet...

I started the Bodyspace group, as a support group for a thread ...(The Body Transformation Group March-May. I do find it motivational to see others going through the same as you. Everyone in the thread, and group support each other while trying to achieve our goals....

Anyone else...please feel free to share your thoughts on BF readings from home scales...experiences/stories/opinions!!!!

[QUOTE=WonderlandRabbit88;316968451]Anyone else...please feel free to share your thoughts on BF readings from home scales...experiences/stories/opinions!!!![/QUOTE]

I stopped doing it at home due to inaccurate readings. I now go to some diet doctors place and use his bf machine, it's called Tanita Body Composition Analyzer, I'm hoping it's somewhat accurate. I do however still measure myself, which is good to do, along with pictures, which i believe are the best indications of fat loss you can get.

[QUOTE=barook;316972601]I stopped doing it at home due to inaccurate readings. I now go to some diet doctors place and use his bf machine, it's called Tanita Body Composition Analyzer, I'm hoping it's somewhat accurate. I do however still measure myself, which is good to do, along with pictures, which i believe are the best indications of fat loss you can get.[/QUOTE]

How off was the home scale compared to the docs measurments??

I agree pics and also just how you feel are the best ways!!!

Yeah a scale can be decent but for an accurate reading getting it done is the best way.

I don't trust these electronic scales to measure bodyfat at all.

I bought an omron body fat monitor and the reading has stayed static at around 30% (although it can go up or down as much as 1% when using more than once at the same time!), but I have lost weight and using another body fat monitor my fat level has dropped significantly in the last few months.

I also have weight watchers scales with a foot pad and I don't trust them further than I can throw them...... even the weight measurement is usually 4lbs lighter than anywhere else and it can vary by as much as 2lbs from one moment to the next.

[QUOTE=WonderlandRabbit88;317011271]How off was the home scale compared to the docs measurments??

I agree pics and also just how you feel are the best ways!!![/QUOTE]

while at home, i calculated my bf using a tape measure, so no experience with the scale your using in particular. as of now, i'd be 23.79% with the tape measure, but i should be about 21.5ish at least atm, so like 2-3% diff.

i have a weight watchers scale, and i dont think the measurements are as accurate for people with lots of muscle mass. i weigh a lot, but i have pretty defined abs, and its showing me at 17. false.

[QUOTE=markney;598788363]i have a weight watchers scale, and i dont think the measurements are as accurate for people with lots of muscle mass. i weigh a lot, but i have pretty defined abs, and its showing me at 17. false.[/QUOTE]

what exactly do you think your scale is using to measure your bodyfat? how does it differentiate between a 6'2 225 that is jacked and one that is obese? No

Some scales, even some weight watchers scales, also do bodyfat testing. Not the most accurate in the world, but it probably gives you an idea of progress over time, similar to calipers or other methods.

I have use the Conair weight watchers scale and it seems to be accurate for weight and BMI but for body fat it's completely off. I actually took it with me to my hydrostatic water body fat test and weighed in right next to it and it was about 15% off. That's too much!! The hydrostatic body fat test said I was 8.3% and the weight watchers scale said 24.3%!!!!! So now I just measure the difference between my body fat from week to week, as opposed to the total number. I wish there was a way to calibrate it! I hate that it is gender&age specific. What difference should that make?! Right?!

[QUOTE=tfalk19;1007778033]So now I just measure the difference between my body fat from week to week, as opposed to the total number. I wish there was a way to calibrate it! I hate that it is gender&age specific. What difference should that make?! Right?![/QUOTE]

But those scales don't actually "measure" bodyfat, they measure resistance which is effected by a number of things ( quantity of body fat being one of many). From what I've seen, they tend to rely a lot on population averages, hence the need for entering all sorts of info like height/age/gender and the most annoying of all "athletic" vs. normal. If these things actually measured bodyfat in any remotely direct fashion, that info wouldn't be necessary.

15% is a huge swing, though, but I am sure that's because contest-lean women are real outliers in the scheme of things.

[QUOTE=csb5731;1007783953]But those scales don't actually "measure" bodyfat, they measure resistance which is effected by a number of things ( quantity of body fat being one of many). From what I've seen, they tend to rely a lot on population averages, hence the need for entering all sorts of info like height/age/gender and the most annoying of all "athletic" vs. normal. If these things actually measured bodyfat in any remotely direct fashion, that info wouldn't be necessary.

15% is a huge swing, though, but I am sure that's because contest-lean women are real outliers in the scheme of things.[/QUOTE]


got one today.. taking it back. My avi photo is pretty up to date and it said I weighed 183.7 in underwear and read a 22% bodyfat...

[QUOTE=JoCoLoCo;1018451503]got one today.. taking it back. My avi photo is pretty up to date and it said I weighed 183.7 in underwear and read a 22% bodyfat...[/QUOTE]

You on creatine? I find myself to be much higher % when on creatine.

[QUOTE=andyat11;1018477723]You on creatine? I find myself to be much higher % when on creatine.[/QUOTE]

nah been off for 6 months

Yeah I'm really happy that some people say this isn't accurate. It has me at 179 and 26.4%. I don't think I'm even close to that. Maybe more around the 16% area

Wow - I am so happy to have found this.

I know I still have a lot of work to go, and I certainly can pinch an inch or two, but I know I'm not OBESE!


[QUOTE=nickyfondz;1025073083]Yeah I'm really happy that some people say this isn't accurate. It has me at 179 and 26.4%. I don't think I'm even close to that. Maybe more around the 16% area[/QUOTE]

I don't think it's accurate in the least. I use it several times a week and it notes I'm 24% bf. There is a professional machine with the hand and foot sensors and it shows I'm 14%.

They need to make a sticky about these darn scales haha.