Best Body Fat Scale in Canada in 2022 | Comparison & Buyer’s Guide

A body fat scale is not just a trendy device. It helps people to comfortably track their diet and exercise goals, without the need to visit a clinic or gym. You will know not only your weight but also where on the body you are storing excess fat.

How does it work? Body fat scales use bioelectrical impedance analysis to estimate the amount of your weight that comes from fat, distinguishing it from your lean mass. The device works by sending an electrical signal through the body and assessing the time of the signal’s travel from one point to another. The main idea behind this device is that it takes less time for any electrical signal to pass through muscles than fat. Based on the data received, this type of smart scale calculates the amount of fat you have.

Foot-to-Foot & Hand-to-Foot Body Fat Scales Compared

There are two types of body fat scales that differ not only by design and features but also by how accurate they are. The first one is a basic version that has electrodes installed under the scale’s foot panels, while the other type is more advanced and features both foot and hand electrodes.

Hand-to-foot measurements are considered to be more accurate while the foot-to-foot analysis technique tends to underestimate body fat. The thing is that the latter does not take into account your stomach area where fat generally accumulates. By contrast, hand-to-foot body fat scales sample a larger part of your body, running the electrical signal between the hands and feet.

These findings were confirmed by various scientific research. For example, Canadian scientists conducted a study involving 198 adults. They have revealed that foot-to-foot bioelectrical impedance analysis gives lower fat-free mass in overweight and obese people as compared to the hand-to-foot technique. Another study has found out that foot-to-foot scales underestimate the overall body fat percentage by 7.2% for males and 3.3% for females. In children, the body fat percentage was overestimated by 9.4% and 2.9% in boys and girls, respectively.

Anyway, if you do not have high deposits of fat in the upper part of your body, a foot-to-foot option can be a great choice for you, especially if it offers extra useful features.

Below, I will illustrate these two types with specific examples.

Withings Body+ Smart Scale vs. Omron Body Composition Monitor | Reviews

Withings Body+ - Digital Wi-Fi Smart Scale | Best Foot-to-Foot Body Fat Scale

Why do I recommend this brand? To begin with, it was Withings that invented the first smart scale and is now one of the industry’s indisputable leaders. Headquartered in Issy-les-Moulineaux, this French company has been working in the field of consumer electronics for around 13 years and has offices in the USA and Hong Kong.

The Withings Body+ scale sends a low-amplitude electrical current through the body to assess your body composition. The two electrodes mounted at the heels of the feet are used to measure impedance. Based on this data, the scale estimates your fat mass versus fat-free mass. What makes this scale more accurate than others is the patented position control technology that guides the user into the correct stance. This is really important as some people do not actually use their scales the right way.

A premium Withings Body Cardio tracks heart health, vascular age, BMI, fat, water %, muscle & bone mass.

A great advantage of this feature-packed scale is that it is a truly modern device. All the data automatically synchronizes to your smart devices through the Health Mate app, which is compatible with both Android and iOS. The app allows you to see your history, set goals and participate in various programs. I particularly recommend the Withings to large families due to its ability to recognize and track the history of up to eight users. And one more thing I find extremely useful is that this scale doesn’t eat up batteries. It is powered by standard AAA batteries that last for more than a year.

Withings Body+: Check the current price

Omron HBF-514C Body Composition Monitor | Best Hand-to-Foot Body Fat Scale

The Omron brand is mostly known for its medical equipment, such as thermometers and blood pressure monitors. However, what you should know is that this Japanese company is primarily one of the Top 100 global innovators. So no wonder that its HBF-514C scale uses cutting-edge technologies and delivers the most possible precision. The device provides full-body sensing, measuring as many as seven fitness indicators, including body fat percentage, resting metabolism, skeletal muscle, and more. This model features a 90-day memory, helping you to reach your fitness goals.

Perhaps the most significant downside is that it is not suitable for large families since the unit can store only four individual profile settings. On the other hand, you can pre-program these profiles, something that the Withings Body+ does not offer. The Omron scale belongs to the hand-to-foot type of body fat scale. Equipped with six advanced sensors — two For Hands and four for feet — the scale sends an electrical signal through the entire body, from your feet to arms. This device was clinically tested and is comparable to professional-grade medical systems.

Additionally, the HBF-514C features a convenient, retractable cord for the hand grips and a large LCD screen. All in all, this scale will bring you to a whole new level of measuring body weight, however, some buyers complain that it is not as accurate as expected.

Omron HBF-514C: Check the current price

Best-Selling Body Fat Scales in Canada | Comparison Table