We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Scale Question

08_GreenEyedMomma
08_GreenEyedMomma Posts: 62 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Not sure if this is the right board to post on, but...

Just got a new digital scale. However, it doesn't read the same as my old one. But only with a human on it. I checked it with a 15lb dumbbell - they both read the same - but the new one is consistently 0.7lbs lighter with a person. Had my husband try it this morning too, and it's the same for him.

I know it's accurate, but that's just weird!

Any ideas why they would be the same for a standard weight but not a person? It's one with Bluetooth & an app, I think it does bodyfat & stuff too but I didn't even download the app. Not too worried about that, I just wanted a new digital scale & this one was cheap with good reviews on Amazon.

Replies

  • Lietchi
    Lietchi Posts: 6,987 Member
    The difference between both is more like a percentage of the weight on the scale, rather than a fixed number perhaps? So with something lighter, the difference is minimal and not noticeable within the level of precision of the number shown (tenths of lbs), whereas something heavier, like a person, has a larger, noticeable difference? Just a hypothesis 🙂
  • threewins
    threewins Posts: 1,455 Member
    As Lietchi says, the sensors in a scale have a percentage error, the heavier the load, the greater the error. So the error in the dumbbell would be around 0.07 lb, which is probably smaller than the display resolution.
  • cyndit1
    cyndit1 Posts: 170 Member
    I did read on a few places a while ago that most scales hold a “memory” even though they don’t say they do. To remedy this, it said to use some kind of reset weight and then weigh yourself. Usually I step on holding a dumbbell and then step off. Let it zero out and then step without. I’m probably just crazy but I did see it makes a difference. Especially when the scale shows the same amount days in a row.

Categories