Doctor's office scales?

violetpurdy
violetpurdy Posts: 39 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I weigh myself on a scale that isn't digital, but it's also not manual either. It has a little line and then a wheel of numbers that moves when you step on it. It said I was 110lbs nearly three weeks ago.

Today I went to the doctors and was weighed on one of those tall manual scales where the nurse moves stuff around to get your weight. It still says 110lbs even though I was expecting to have lost at least two pounds since my last weigh in.

How accurate are those old fashioned doctor scales? Also, this was done at a pediatrician's office (they keep their patients until they're 24) so would that make it more or less accurate?

I'm just disappointed, as I thought I looked a little thinner, yet the scale says I'm the same.

Thank you.

Replies

  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    In theory, your doctor's scale should be calibrated. Which means it should be accurate.

    But, yeah - basically what Machka said.
  • billglitch
    billglitch Posts: 538 Member
    clothes on or off at home? at dr? either way you are home more often so stick to that scale.....weight loss will show
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    Machka9 wrote: »
    1. Scales don't match. But of the two you describe, I would consider the Dr's scale to be the more accurate. Nevertheless, you've got to stick to one scale and watch the trend on it.

    2. I don't know about you, but when I weigh myself at home, I'm not wearing anything ... when I am weighed at the Dr's office, I am wearing clothes. Clothes have weight.

    3. When I weigh myself at home, it is second thing in the morning, after a visit to the toilet and well before I consume anything ... when I'm weighed at the Dr's office, chances are I've had something to eat or drink. Food and liquid have weight.

    ^All of this.

    If you lined up seven scales and weighed yourself on each one, you'd probably end up with eight different numbers. The important thing is to pick one and use it consistently. Trying to figure out which one is the "correct" weight is just going to drive you bonkers.
  • Panda_Poptarts
    Panda_Poptarts Posts: 971 Member
    In addition to what all of these awesome people said... you said you feel like you LOOK smaller. Have you taken measurements? Pictures? Often those items are more telling than scale weight.
  • ashliedelgado
    ashliedelgado Posts: 814 Member
    All those things. No two scales are going to read the same. I would not worry.
  • butterfli7o
    butterfli7o Posts: 1,319 Member
    I'm assuming you have clothes on at the doctors office? Do you weigh yourself with clothes at home?
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    and probably ate/drank before appointment
  • sullus
    sullus Posts: 2,839 Member
    violetpurdy wrote: »
    I weigh myself on a scale that isn't digital, but it's also not manual either. It has a little line and then a wheel of numbers that moves when you step on it. It said I was 110lbs nearly three weeks ago.

    Today I went to the doctors and was weighed on one of those tall manual scales where the nurse moves stuff around to get your weight. It still says 110lbs even though I was expecting to have lost at least two pounds since my last weigh in.

    How accurate are those old fashioned doctor scales? Also, this was done at a pediatrician's office (they keep their patients until they're 24) so would that make it more or less accurate?

    I'm just disappointed, as I thought I looked a little thinner, yet the scale says I'm the same.

    Thank you.

    More accurate than yours.

    But that doesn't matter.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    How tall are you?
  • _Waffle_
    _Waffle_ Posts: 13,049 Member
    Unless you weighed yourself on the doctor's scale 3 weeks ago too I wouldn't worry about it. Just use the same scale every time and keep track of the change.
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    The Health-o-Meter scales at the Doctor's office are the gold standard of accuracy in low-cost human body weight measuring. Your vintage bathroom scale might be accurate, but your 2 lb could be covered by different clothes, shoes, and water consumption. You've lost weight. Congratulations. My doctor's scale always get me about 4 lb heavier because of the clothes and shoes.
  • RogerToo
    RogerToo Posts: 16,157 Member
    violetpurdy wrote: »
    I weigh myself on a scale that isn't digital, but it's also not manual either. It has a little line and then a wheel of numbers that moves when you step on it. It said I was 110lbs nearly three weeks ago.

    Today I went to the doctors and was weighed on one of those tall manual scales where the nurse moves stuff around to get your weight. It still says 110lbs even though I was expecting to have lost at least two pounds since my last weigh in.

    How accurate are those old fashioned doctor scales? Also, this was done at a pediatrician's office (they keep their patients until they're 24) so would that make it more or less accurate?

    I'm just disappointed, as I thought I looked a little thinner, yet the scale says I'm the same.

    Thank you.

    Hi
    I also use a Balance beam scale. It gives consistent results. I consider them more accurate than any of the other types FWIW. Always weigh wearing the same, at the same point in Your day, ideally before eating or drinking anything so as to have the same conditions for weighing.

    Easy test, Just before You step out the door to the doctors, weigh Yourself and then compare to the doctors to find the offset between the scales. What is important is if Your scale shows a downward trend.

    Good Luck
    Roger
    Machka9 wrote: »
    1. Scales don't match. But of the two you describe, I would consider the Dr's scale to be the more accurate. Nevertheless, you've got to stick to one scale and watch the trend on it.

    2. I don't know about you, but when I weigh myself at home, I'm not wearing anything ... when I am weighed at the Dr's office, I am wearing clothes. Clothes have weight.

    3. When I weigh myself at home, it is second thing in the morning, after a visit to the toilet and well before I consume anything ... when I'm weighed at the Dr's office, chances are I've had something to eat or drink. Food and liquid have weight.

    Hi
    Exactly what You said is my daily procedure, then I get dressed, have my morning Banana and go for a 1.5 +/- hours walk.

    Cheers
    Roger
    butterfli7o wrote: »
    I'm assuming you have clothes on at the doctors office? Do you weigh yourself with clothes at home?

    Good Question
    singingflutelady wrote: »
    and probably ate/drank before appointment

    Also most likely true, I know My weight goes up steadily throughout the day and that I can only get an accurate weight in the morning.
    JeromeBarry1 wrote: »
    The Health-o-Meter scales at the Doctor's office are the gold standard of accuracy in low-cost human body weight measuring. Your vintage bathroom scale might be accurate, but your 2 lb could be covered by different clothes, shoes, and water consumption. You've lost weight. Congratulations. My doctor's scale always get me about 4 lb heavier because of the clothes and shoes.

    Hi
    Exactly the brand I decided to get also. I am not a fan of the spring mechanism mechanical scales or Their electronic cousin.

    Cheers
    Roger

Categories