scale accuracy

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Replies

  • We can't tell if your scales are inaccurate or if the sugar was heavier than one kilo or if your period is coming or if you moved your scales. How do you expect us to know that?? It is completely circumstancial. So many things affect the weight on the scale so without investigation we can't say if your scales are accurate or inaccurate. We understand completely what you are asking us but no one on this site can give you a yes or no answer to your question. Its not as simple as that. Read some of the answers people have given you. They have explained fully why the answer is not yes or no but why there is more to it. :)

    did anyone actually read my question???
    i want to know whether the sugar weighing 1.1kg could mean that the scales are telling me i weigh more than i actually do, or less. If it weighed the sugar at more does that mean its weighing my weight at more?
    anyway whatever, apparently it doesnt matter. -.-
    PS even if my weight is decreasing, inaccurate scales will give me an inaccurate bmi.

    People are answering your question; we're telling you that ANY SCALE has a MARGIN OF ERROR which is minimal but exists because technology isn't perfect.

    You weigh on two different scales, you'll get two different weights a lot of time; chances are they've been calibrated slightly differently.

    In regards to your weight loss, if you're weighing with the same scale, you know you're losing weight. And it wouldn't change your BMI reading because it's 0.1lb it is literally 100g. A glass of water weighs more.

    Relax. You are over thinking this, and you're going to get some really rude responses.

    (Also, BMI isn't an accurate indicator of health either -- welcome to the real world)
    I didnt ask whether my scales are accurate!!
    READ THE QUESTION...

    I know what BMI is -.- I Know it doesnt take into account whats fat and whats muscle. But still, it tells me whether im classed as underweight, normal or whatever.



    why are you all so rude??? i asked 1 simple question and you all start answering a different question.
    fyi, my scales appear to be correct since they now weighed the sugar at 1kg and i weighed it on normal scales and its 1.025kg. So my friend's scale must be a little inaccurate.
  • We can't tell if your scales are inaccurate or if the sugar was heavier than one kilo or if your period is coming or if you moved your scales. How do you expect us to know that?? It is completely circumstancial. So many things affect the weight on the scale so without investigation we can't say if your scales are accurate or inaccurate. We understand completely what you are asking us but no one on this site can give you a yes or no answer to your question. Its not as simple as that. Read some of the answers people have given you. They have explained fully why the answer is not yes or no but why there is more to it. :)

    did anyone actually read my question???
    i want to know whether the sugar weighing 1.1kg could mean that the scales are telling me i weigh more than i actually do, or less. If it weighed the sugar at more does that mean its weighing my weight at more?
    anyway whatever, apparently it doesnt matter. -.-
    PS even if my weight is decreasing, inaccurate scales will give me an inaccurate bmi.

    Did you actually read any of the replies?

    The sugar does not weigh 1.1kg. The sugar and its package weigh 1.1kg. I couls see the packaging weighing 100g or more. Shoot, what if the packaging weighs like 150 or 200g? Then your scale is under-reporting your weight, and you;re heavier than you think.

    Dump out the sugar and weigh the packaging on a food scale. This will get you closer to an answer.

    ETA: and yes if it's a spring type scale, and there is an error, then the more you weigh, the larger the error will be.

    Best reply yet bc you actually managed to read my question, thank you. I weighed the sugar on kitchen scales and its 1.025kg, and now my scales are weighing it at 1kg so i think they must be pretty accurate.

    How do i know if theyre spring type scales?
  • For people that struggled to read the question...
    'thats a difference of 1.1kg, right? So what does that mean? Do my scales tell me im heavier than i actually am, or lighter?'
    That question was based on the figures provided. And they dont matter now bc the sugars weighing in at 1kg now.
    Just pointing out that most of you seemed to be answering a different set of questions...
  • We can't tell if your scales are inaccurate or if the sugar was heavier than one kilo or if your period is coming or if you moved your scales. How do you expect us to know that?? It is completely circumstancial. So many things affect the weight on the scale so without investigation we can't say if your scales are accurate or inaccurate. We understand completely what you are asking us but no one on this site can give you a yes or no answer to your question. Its not as simple as that. Read some of the answers people have given you. They have explained fully why the answer is not yes or no but why there is more to it. :)

    did anyone actually read my question???
    i want to know whether the sugar weighing 1.1kg could mean that the scales are telling me i weigh more than i actually do, or less. If it weighed the sugar at more does that mean its weighing my weight at more?
    anyway whatever, apparently it doesnt matter. -.-
    PS even if my weight is decreasing, inaccurate scales will give me an inaccurate bmi.

    People are answering your question; we're telling you that ANY SCALE has a MARGIN OF ERROR which is minimal but exists because technology isn't perfect.

    You weigh on two different scales, you'll get two different weights a lot of time; chances are they've been calibrated slightly differently.

    In regards to your weight loss, if you're weighing with the same scale, you know you're losing weight. And it wouldn't change your BMI reading because it's 0.1lb it is literally 100g. A glass of water weighs more.

    Relax. You are over thinking this, and you're going to get some really rude responses.

    (Also, BMI isn't an accurate indicator of health either -- welcome to the real world)

    I need a little help understanding how: ' we're telling you that ANY SCALE has a MARGIN OF ERROR which is minimal but exists because technology isn't perfect.'
    Answers my questions that were: 'thats a difference of 1.1kg, right? So what does that mean? Do my scales tell me im heavier than i actually am, or lighter?'
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
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  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    Do my scales tell me im heavier than i actually am, or lighter?

    Both.

    Pretty much all consumer scales are going to be +/- 2 pounds at typical human weights. More, if care isn't taken on scale placement. Sometimes the scale will over-report, sometimes it will under-report.
  • LoneWolfRunner
    LoneWolfRunner Posts: 1,160 Member
    This thread could have been on Monty Python.
  • mullaneywt
    mullaneywt Posts: 28 Member



    Also, the buoyancy of the sugar in the air will change depending on how you hold it. Try it with a large box of breakfast cereal or packages of noodles and you'll see the difference clearly.

    Ok, can you please provide the scientific basis to that statement..... because I'm quite sure there is not any. I suppose it would be inaccurate if you somehow were weighing yourself while the bag of sugar was falling, and different still if it was at terminal velocity, or perhaps if you had been holding it up with an arm several miles long. But I'm pretty sure for any practical purpose (and probably for any impractical ones" the buoyancy of sugar in air is not a concern.

    Also, to the OP, your scale may be off, showing that you are heavier or lighter than you are, but it wouldn't be off by some concerning amount. IE, it may be off by a pound or two, or even five, but not by 20 or 100. If you use the same scale all the time, as others have said, than your measurements up and down would be accurate enough for the purposes of determining successful weight loss. Besides, the amount you gain or lose in a day due to things like water (remember 8x8oz cups is 4lbs) is very likely going to exceed the accuracy issues in your scale. If you're entire problem is that at say, 179.9lbs you're BMI shows you as overweight, and 180.0 shows you as obese, really a) who cares, BMI isn't that accurate and b) if you care, round up, and consider yourself to be overweight. Or down and underweight if it's something like 109.9 and 110lbs.

    Really, I'm pretty sure the OP is trolling, not taking their time to read the responses, or just doesn't want to hear what people are saying despite getting the answer to their question in multiple ways.
  • tracie_minus100
    tracie_minus100 Posts: 465 Member
    Do my scales tell me im heavier than i actually am, or lighter?

    Both.

    Pretty much all consumer scales are going to be +/- 2 pounds at typical human weights. More, if care isn't taken on scale placement. Sometimes the scale will over-report, sometimes it will under-report.

    This.
  • This thread could have been on Monty Python.
    ????
  • kirkor
    kirkor Posts: 2,530 Member
    uNHN13n.jpg
  • 365andstillalive
    365andstillalive Posts: 663 Member
    We can't tell if your scales are inaccurate or if the sugar was heavier than one kilo or if your period is coming or if you moved your scales. How do you expect us to know that?? It is completely circumstancial. So many things affect the weight on the scale so without investigation we can't say if your scales are accurate or inaccurate. We understand completely what you are asking us but no one on this site can give you a yes or no answer to your question. Its not as simple as that. Read some of the answers people have given you. They have explained fully why the answer is not yes or no but why there is more to it. :)

    did anyone actually read my question???
    i want to know whether the sugar weighing 1.1kg could mean that the scales are telling me i weigh more than i actually do, or less. If it weighed the sugar at more does that mean its weighing my weight at more?
    anyway whatever, apparently it doesnt matter. -.-
    PS even if my weight is decreasing, inaccurate scales will give me an inaccurate bmi.

    People are answering your question; we're telling you that ANY SCALE has a MARGIN OF ERROR which is minimal but exists because technology isn't perfect.

    You weigh on two different scales, you'll get two different weights a lot of time; chances are they've been calibrated slightly differently.

    In regards to your weight loss, if you're weighing with the same scale, you know you're losing weight. And it wouldn't change your BMI reading because it's 0.1lb it is literally 100g. A glass of water weighs more.

    Relax. You are over thinking this, and you're going to get some really rude responses.

    (Also, BMI isn't an accurate indicator of health either -- welcome to the real world)

    I need a little help understanding how: ' we're telling you that ANY SCALE has a MARGIN OF ERROR which is minimal but exists because technology isn't perfect.'
    Answers my questions that were: 'thats a difference of 1.1kg, right? So what does that mean? Do my scales tell me im heavier than i actually am, or lighter?'

    It actually does answer your question. No one can tell you if your scale is weighing you under or over with certainty. One or the other? probably, because all scales are inaccurate to a degree.

    So to break this down.
    Yes, there was a difference of 1.1kg.
    That means that either the bag weighed more than 1 kg, or your scale was slightly off by .1
    Your scale is telling you the weight of you holding a bag of sugar, which you have somehow construed to be attached to your BMI, when it is literally 100g.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    For people that struggled to read the question...
    'thats a difference of 1.1kg, right? So what does that mean? Do my scales tell me im heavier than i actually am, or lighter?'
    That question was based on the figures provided. And they dont matter now bc the sugars weighing in at 1kg now.
    Just pointing out that most of you seemed to be answering a different set of questions...

    What suddenly made your scale seem more accurate? Do you think it will remain so tomorrow and the day after?
  • MargaretWalks
    MargaretWalks Posts: 38 Member
    I just took a bag of sugar which weighed 4 lbs according to the package. (They used to be 5 lb bags!!) I weighed 206.6 without the bag (late in the day, fully clothed). Then with the sugar I weighed 210.2. Hmmm. Not 4 pounds heavier. What does this mean? I have no idea! Then I went to my kitchen food scale and the 4 lb bag of sugar weighed 4.05 pounds. Does the bag of sugar weigh 4.05 pounds OR does it weigh 3.6 lbs. Which scale is correct? And does it matter? probably not. I have 2 scales. One weighs me about 2-2.5 pounds less than the other. My higher weighing scale is an Aria which is linked to MFP. That is the one I use as my official scale. Does it matter that it weighs more than the other? Not really. I also weigh at TOPS on a different digital scale. If I could weigh naked on all 3 I'd have 3 different weights. The same is true for everyone. But week to week to week on any of the scales I get a fairly accurate accounting of my weight.
  • LiftAllThePizzas
    LiftAllThePizzas Posts: 17,857 Member
    Put a ten pound weight on it and see if it says it weighs ten pounds.
    First you need to ensure the "ten pound weight" actually weighs ten pounds, because weights/dumbells that you buy at the store can be off by up to 10%.
    Even if you use a $500 Legal For Trade medical scale that was certified to obtain your true weight you would still not be able to determine your actual BMI from the charts. BMI charts are not accurate for personal use even though they have become widely used.

    To obtain your accurate BMI you will need to be tested. The degree of accuracy required will determine which test you use.

    You can go get Hydrostatic, Air Displacement Plethysmograph or Caliper, Bioelectric Impedance tested.
    more clinic and even more accurate methods include MRI and X-Ray Absorptiometry which are typically used in scientific research.

    How accurate of a BMI do you require ?
    What are you talking about? BMI is a function of body weight and height. You only need a scale and a ruler to determine your BMI.

    did anyone actually read my question???
    i want to know whether the sugar weighing 1.1kg could mean that the scales are telling me i weigh more than i actually do, or less. If it weighed the sugar at more does that mean its weighing my weight at more?
    anyway whatever, apparently it doesnt matter. -.-
    PS even if my weight is decreasing, inaccurate scales will give me an inaccurate bmi.
    First you assume (for no reason) that the bag of sugar actually weighs precisely one kilogram. You have to first even figure out what it weighs before you can start extrapolating from there. This is why I suggested the nickels.

    Anyway, there are approximately 2,132,033,310,911,279,473,199,745 fat molecules in a kilogram, exactly how many molecules are you trying to lose?
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    I just took a bag of sugar which weighed 4 lbs according to the package. (They used to be 5 lb bags!!) I weighed 206.6 without the bag (late in the day, fully clothed). Then with the sugar I weighed 210.2. Hmmm. Not 4 pounds heavier. What does this mean? I have no idea! Then I went to my kitchen food scale and the 4 lb bag of sugar weighed 4.05 pounds. Does the bag of sugar weigh 4.05 pounds OR does it weigh 3.6 lbs. Which scale is correct? And does it matter? probably not. I have 2 scales. One weighs me about 2-2.5 pounds less than the other. My higher weighing scale is an Aria which is linked to MFP. That is the one I use as my official scale. Does it matter that it weighs more than the other? Not really. I also weigh at TOPS on a different digital scale. If I could weigh naked on all 3 I'd have 3 different weights. The same is true for everyone. But week to week to week on any of the scales I get a fairly accurate accounting of my weight.

    Is this raw sugar?
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    The reason you're having problems is because you are using a bag of sugar and everyone knows sugar is evil and makes you fat. Just holding onto the bag probably caused you to gain 100g which would explain the difference on the scales.

    I suggest using a bag of apples as sugar from fruit is ok.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,286 Member
    As I said earlier, 100 g difference in your weight makes such a minuscule and insignificant difference to your BMI as to be totally irrelevant ..
    I have a BMI of 23 - well, maybe it is really a BMI of 23.01 - perhaps my scales are out by 100 g or my height out by a mm.
    What on earth difference does this really make OP?

    Not to mention everyone's weight fluctuates slightly throughout the day - assuming their height stays constant, their BMI is never exactly the same either.
    BMI is just a height weight mathematical formula.
  • 365andstillalive
    365andstillalive Posts: 663 Member
    The reason you're having problems is because you are using a bag of sugar and everyone knows sugar is evil and makes you fat. Just holding onto the bag probably caused you to gain 100g which would explain the difference on the scales.

    I suggest using a bag of apples as sugar from fruit is ok.

    This, this right here. It's the whole problem. If only I'd seen it sooner.