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Electronic Scales

 

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Taylor 7009 Electronic Lithium Scale
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Weigh to Go
Frankly, I can't imagine why anyone would need travelling scales. But, under the headline "Weigh to Go," the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette is recommending the Tanita KD-400 foldaway travel scale:

It could help with portion control while you’re on the road, and its features also include a weighted stainless steel base, 11-pound weight capacity and tare function. The fold-up display creates a narrow, vertical footprint that can fit right in on the cookbook shelf.
July 3rd, 2006

 

A Whole New Generation of Bathroom Scales
Thanks to the obesity problem, Homedics has revealed that it has increased the capacity of its bathroom scales to 350 pounds. According to a short UPI report from the Chicago International Housewares Show:

America's growing obesity problem has inspired a whole new generation of bathroom scales that measure everything from pounds to visceral fat. Tanita introduced its Innerscan Body Composition Monitor, which also can give a muscle-to-water ratio, measure bone mass and metabolic age and let the consumer know how many calories should be eaten to maintain weight.

Homedics has increased the capacity of its scales to 350 pounds. They also measure more than weight and some scales are designed with decor in mind, clothed in terrycloth or faux suede to blend in with other bathroom features.
March 13th, 2006

Bathroom Scales Go High-Tech
Bathroom scales go high-tech, according to an article on the MSNBC website. It looks at regular bathroom scales, and also at body fat monitors. About the former it notes:

Most digital scales rely on an array of electronic sensors to calculate weight rather than the spring loaded mechanisms of their predecessors. As such, their readings are considered more precise and require less knob-fiddling adjustments to keep them true.

Of course, the traditional spring-loaded styles that read weight like a speedometer going zero to @#$%! in a few blinks of the eye are still around. And unlike their digital cousins, no batteries are required. Several manufactures make them and many are updated with a trendy, retro-styled look.

For example, the Analog Dial Scale from Homedics ($25) comes with an easy-to-read speedometer dial, a 300 pound weight capacity, and color choice of black and white or all white. Basic scales in the $10-$15 price point include the Thinner Compact Scale and the Taylor Basic Analog Scale.

About body fat monitors, it says:

The digital Innerscan and Ironman lines from Tanita ($70 to $130) come packed with features that do everything from sending a low-level electric current through the body in order to measure body fat percentage and hydration levels to allowing up to four individual users to track their progress over time.

Some models, such as the glass-and-stainless BC-533 ($120), also analyze muscle mass, bone mass and daily caloric intake, gauge stomach fat and provide a "physique" rating based on body type.

Tanita claims these additional measurements can be important to maintaining overall health and monitoring the effects of a diet and exercise plan. For example, a stand-alone weight reading does not distinguish muscle from fat. Too much fat can be a warning sign of serious medical conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

Cathy Nonas, a dietician and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association in New York, cautioned that before people opt for these features, they should know how they intend to use the information. Do they really need to know their percent body fat on a regular basis? "If so, then by all means, spend the extra money," she said.
February 17th, 2006

Bathroom Scales – a Love/Hate Relationship
I feel that most people probably won’t need this, but the Washington Post has published a short feature on how to get the most out of your bathroom scales. According to the report: 

Most of us have a love/hate relationship with our bathroom scale: adore it when we get a low reading, curse it when the numbers inch up. Yet we keep stepping up to the plate: 48 percent of us weigh ourselves every day, 44 percent weigh in weekly, and 4 percent once a month, according to research conducted by HoMedics, a leading manufacturer of health and wellness products. Herb Conroy, group marketing manager for HoMedics, says that how we use the scale affects the reliability of readings.

January 19^th, 2006

 

 
Taylor 7009 Electronic Lithium Scale with Large Read Out

Here is another of Amazon’s popular products. The official specifications are as follows:

Features:

• Slim profile
• Solid Steel Construction
• Large LCD display
• Instant on and automatic zero
• Accurate to 300 LBS or 136KG

Taylor, the leader in bathroom scales, offers a simple, easy to use, dependable bathroom scale. Slim and compact, the scale allows easy storage in cramped bathrooms. Attractive silver finish, with smooth black mat. Featuring auto on/auto off - just step on the scale to get an accurate reading - Taylor uses strain gauge mechanisms for precise results. The display is easy to read, the capacity of 300 lbs (136 kgs) reads to the 0.5 lb. Includes a long-life lithium battery for readings day after day, week after week, month after month with no replacement. Lifetime warranty.

A larger image is here.

October 21^st, 2005