Is it worth buying a 'Fat Scale'?

We bought some when DH started his cancer treatments at the beginning of the year. It measures fat, muscle and water - how accurately I have no clue. But what it has done is allow us to graph the measurements (he measures every day - his choice!) and keep an eye on the trends. I specifically monitor the muscle and weight - even if it isn't accurate it shows which way it is moving and I can check whether muscle loss is showing up with weight loss.

The weight measurement is at least more accurate than the hospital scales which show quite different weights every time he goes in even though he always removes his jackets and shoes.

I've only been weighed once in the last 30+ years - I use my clothes to tell me where I am adding/losing weight.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0026ngn

Listen to this rec smart scales

They are actually body fat speculation scales.
If they are using a bioelectrical impedance analysis (does it state you need to take your socks off) they can't discern body composition accurately. Hydration makes a difference for example.

The analysis wrongly assumes that tissue density is the same for everyone and stays the same as weight fluctuates.

If you don't have to take your socks off but you do have to put in your age, gender and height it is only calculating bmi and you can do that for free www.nhs.uk/health-assessment-tools/calculate-your-body-mass-index/calculate-bmi-for-adults

Waist measurement is another indicator (although none of them are very accurate). The last time my waist was within the recommended range was 1979.

www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/measuring-your-waist

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I agree, Shropshirelass. That's exactly what I have been doing. The fat is slowly melting but it's taking its time, and though I'm no longer in the obese category I'm still very overweight. That said I feel (physically at any rate) loads better for being slimmer. I've dropped a dress size or two (depending on the type of garment) and my bras no longer fit properly. I'm very pear-shaped - always have been - and the fat is still stubbornly clinging to hips, tummy and legs, but I'm going to keep on going till it starts to vanish.
I avoid biscuits, cakes and sweets apart from a very occasional treat and limit wholemeal bread. pasta, and so on. If I eat breakfast it's a mix of a few jumbo oats, buckwheat flakes, ground seeds, a few mixed nuts and some oat milk. No sugar.
I will leave buying a fat scale, I think, having weighed up the advice and suggestions here. Wise G-Netters, thank you!

I would save your money for something else. Go on a sugar free, low carb way of eating and your body fat will disappear and you won't need your scales.

Thanks all for your input and also for your lovely encouraging words - means a lot.
I think that, for the moment, I won't waste my money. Looking at the reviews of some of the scales, they all have glitches and faults and it's not clear how accurate they are at measuring internal fat which is what I'm concerned about mostly. I can see what's coming off (partly from the loose, wrinkly, flabby skin left behind which will never be the same again!) but I was always a pear shape and my legs are still like Cumberland sausages. I can't pop in to the surgery as they don't allow that now, so that will have to wait - it won't be regarded as serious enough, I'm certain.

Yesterday I had a treadmill echocardiogram, so I hope to find out whether my heart and the environs are OK. I'd been having some intermittent episodes of bad breathlessness, which could have been that I was unfit, or possibly very mild athsma (I have a puffer but rarely need to use it as I don't run fast unless essential).
I'll continue as best I can with the exercise routine and healthy eating which is working well in lockdown with no meals out or holidays to shift me off course - as with many of us!

A daily walk since Lockdown, with 2 hills has made me fitter and half a stone lighter. My breathing is easier on the hills. I looked up my BMI and I am 3 pounds above normal. Oh well back to walking ?‍♀️

Thank you for the link Hilly and the information Cleo.

My scales show % body fat as well as body mass and BMI. They aren't anything special but I do find it useful, when I put on weight while I'm on holiday, to know whether it is fat or muscle from the extra exercise.
Argos do one similar to mine for £30: www.argos.co.uk/product/4246482?clickSR=slp:term:scales:7:79:1

I realise many of the more recent posters will not have read my earlier comment but just to reiterate.
I find these scales really useful to motivate me.
When I use them in the same level place they are consistently accurate on weight as I’ve tested then regularly with known weights.
They do show body fat and do show fluctuations in it. I’ve read that the measurements are indicative of whole body proportions, not simply in the legs.
Personally, I know I would never ever visit my GP to discuss body fat proportions!! Or use a public weighing scale !
BMI is generally useful for seeing approximately where in the scale you are but can’t give you any extra info.
My scales weren’t cheap but nether were they expensive.
Check brand reviews. When I bought mine, this brand and model we’re well reviewed.
I wouldn’t bother with unknown or bargain brands unless they were well reviewed and recommended as they may be totally false economy.
I do enjoy seeing the fat proportions go down as I eat more healthily and exercise more.
To me they are are worth every penny.

My local health centre has a weighing machine that will give you a print out of your weight and BMI scale. It might be worth asking at your Dr's surgery if they have one, if you are concerned that is. I have always found bathroom scales sufficient to show if my weight is increasing. I would save your money.

My DD has a pair of these intelligent scales. Great I thought, two feet on you see your weight, then balance on one foot, bit more difficult, to be told your muscle percentage.... it registered water percentage for me. Not muscle or fat . Where did I go wrong, my DD had never seen this before.

I’ve got a set of them, but I feel they were a novelty, we all jumped on them checked out all the info it had to offer and never used them since.I have been told since buying them they are not accurate so make of that what you will

My instinct - which I trust - tells me that a device which runs a small electrical current up my leg absolutely CANNOT detect the percentage of visceral fat I have. If I want to know how much fat my leg contains, I could just as easily look at it.

i had some years ago and i found that the readings fluctuated drastically. i gave to a charity shop in the end. they may have improved but if so look at Aldi and Lidl when they sell them at different types of the year

You wouldn’t be seen as wasting the time of the staff at your surgery at all if you asked for a check up and mentioned that you were thinking of getting these scales, asked for advice on reducing your visceral fat etc. - they are only too keen to help those people who want to help themselves keep fit, most people unfortunately don’t.

I think it depends how interested you are in keeping track of your statistics. I bought a set of WeightWatchers scales, on impulse, in a sale at Sainsbury's a couple of years ago. They were £16 at that time. I enjoyed recording the stats, twice a week after my two fasting days, for a while and it was good to see the body fat reading going down steadily, while the muscle mass remained stable. However, you can track your loss of visceral fat simply by measuring your waist. A tape measure is way less expensive than all-singing-all-dancing bathroom scales!

Don't waste your money, they are not reliable at all. The most accurate way of determining body fat is a dexa scan.

It's probably something you're better off discussing with your doctor or practice nurse. If they feel your BMI needs serious attention or you're on statins or high blood pressure medication it could be advisable to keep a strict eye on bodyfat ratio. But if you're just a few pounds overweight - personally I wouldn't bother.

I don't think these scales will pick.up.visceral.fat. sometimes people who are incredibly thin can have visceral fat. Your weight will fluctuate with food, muscle, fluid and even hormonal.retention so I fail to see how it will work.

Have you seen the TV program which I've just been hooked on this morning? "My 600 lb life." My goodness, those people are ENORMOUS jelly-like Michelin men. We need to keep an eye on our weight as even if it goes on gradually by say, 10 lbs a year, after 10 years we will weigh 100 lbs more. Any scales are better than none. Weigh yourself daily, not weekly, and if you notice you have put weight on cut back on the pasta , bread, and cake until you have taken it off again. Good luck.

Sadly, I dont think it would make it any easier to diet or exercise.

I may be wrong but I'm sure I've seen public scales in Tesco that can tell you your fat content! Costs but a few pence.

Rowantree, sounds as though you are reaping great rewards with your current regime. Well done. Much too intense for me. I did long and slow as I didn't want to deprive myself. Interesting how we all find our own way to success. Would just like to reiterate something I saw in a previous contribution. Be kind to yourself.