Scale repeatability

jenmarrs429

I figured this might be helpful for those sweating a half pound gain

Measurement devices have some imprecision. This means that if you measure once, then measure again, then again......you will get a distribution of slightly different values. This applies to bathroom scales as well. Step on, step off, step on again. Do this ten times. See what you get.

Here is a study done on home scales. Digital ones were much more repeatable than dial types. They found that for a 100kg test weight for instance, the digital scales had an imprecision of 0.54kg. So if you are around 220lb, that half pound plus or minus may have nothing to do with you and everything to do with the device's precision capability.
Add to that the variables of how you stand, where you stand, etc. on that scale, and you will drive yourself crazy!

bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-13-1194

PAV8888

Without reading the article and looking at the specific scales included... I alert people to consider that most current commercially available digital scales exhibit "fake" repeatability with the scale manufacturers chosing to display the same value regardless of actual measurement unless a specific threshold change value is detected.

This is done to instill confidence into the value the scale displays as opposed to displaying the changing average of the stream of values the force sensors detect.

This can be tested by holding progressively heavier and lighter objects and seeing whether​ and if the scale value changes with repeat consecutive weigh ins.

Very few scales will show a .2lb to .3lb change even if the scale displays .1lb increments.

Unknown

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PAV8888

So that your second weigh in is real?

Unknown

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karahm78

PAV8888 wrote: »

Without reading the article and looking at the specific scales included... I alert people to consider that most current commercially available digital scales exhibit "fake" repeatability with the scale manufacturers chosing to display the same value regardless of actual measurement unless a specific threshold change value is detected.

This is done to instill confidence into the value the scale displays as opposed to displaying the changing average of the stream of values the force sensors detect.

This can be tested by holding progressively heavier and lighter objects and seeing whether​ and if the scale value changes with repeat consecutive weigh ins.

Very few scales will show a .2lb to .3lb change even if the scale displays .1lb increments.

I suspect my scale is doing this... at first I thought it was accurate but now I'm not convinced

150poundsofme

I get myself crazy with the scale, on and off, on and off. I know if I stand in different spots, it does seem to change the weight. I really, really need to stop doing this. Because when I first weigh and see a lower weight, I am happy. Then for whatever reason, I get on again and the number can go up, even as much as a pound, which then makes me unhappy. Thanks for posting.

Lounmoun

Interesting.
I step on my scale 3-4 times in a row in the same spot on the floor. If I get the same reading 3 times in a row then I record it.
I almost always do get the same reading. I have not tried stepping on it 10 times.

Tacklewasher

My last scale did this. So I'd put one foot on it to get the fake reading cleared and the step on it again to get the "real" reading. Was easier than picking up a weight.

I picked up a WIthings scale from a clearance table one day and it doesn't do this. I just can't step on it more than once a day as it updates everything automatically.

Kimblesnbits13

Tacklewasher wrote: »

My last scale did this. So I'd put one foot on it to get the fake reading cleared and the step on it again to get the "real" reading. Was easier than picking up a weight.

I picked up a WIthings scale from a clearance table one day and it doesn't do this. I just can't step on it more than once a day as it updates everything automatically.

I do the same with my foot! My routine is step on scale, see it reads exactly the same from yesterday, weigh foot then step on again lol. Works every time. However if I ate a lot the night before then it'll definitely go up without me having to weigh my foot haha