Not everyone is a fan of scales. They can make you obsess over your weight to an unhealthy degree, leading you to focus more on the number than whether you’re eating a balanced diet and getting enough exercise. Still, they have their place, and on those occasions, the Withings Body Smart Scale offers a more high-tech option (https://longevity.technology/lifestyle/withings-body-smart-scale-review-great-features-but-falls-short/).
We were using scales to monitor our bodies long before wearable devices were a thing. Now, the Withings Body Smart Scale doesn’t just give you the most precise weight measurements; it also lets you track other important health data that you might otherwise look to a phone or smartwatch to collect.
That’s right; it’s a scale that evaluates your heart rate and how many calories you eat. Its weight measurements are also a little more than just weight. It can break down the proportion of your body that’s bone mass, muscle mass, lean mass, body fat or water. You know that muscle weighs more than fat, and that’s one of the reasons measurements like BMI aren’t useful. This way, you can have a better idea of how your weight relates to your body and health overall.
The Withings scale is easy to set up. Install the app, pull out the tab on the scales, then follow the basic instructions. It’s also easy to use, with a high-resolution color screen that stands in contrast to similar scales from other manufacturers. The tempered glass platform is strong and resilient, in addition to giving the scale a sleek, elegant design. Then there’s the impressive battery life.
Of course, it’s not a perfect device. The degree of sensitivity means that shifting your position even the tiniest amount can lead to inaccurate results. Some of the extra features, like the weather forecast, are also less precise. It doesn’t help that the free version of the app doesn’t include every feature, and you need a subscription for the full service. It’s also rather a loud, aggressive app when it comes to notifications, which some people find annoying. Some people have reported connectivity issues with the Wi-Fi link. And the longer you use the scales, the more likely maintenance problems will occur.
Overall, the scale combines style and functionality with its sleek design, high-contrast screen and precise, comprehensive data collection, although there are some potential downsides.