Weight Scales

Seniors can have many weight issues. Although most Americans struggle with overweight, some people don’t weight enough and can become frail and more likely to suffer a fall or broken bones.

Keeping track of weight with a bathroom scale can be motivational when you’re following a weight loss diet and can be essential for maintaining good health if you’re prone to being too thin.

There are many types of weight scales available, depending on your needs, and they come in a wide range of prices as well.

Traditional Weight Scales

These bathroom scales feature a dial with an arm that indicates your weight when you step on it. Some give your weight in kilograms as well as pounds. Often these scales have numbers that are too small to see, yet they have the reputation for being the most reliable. The answer to this dilemma is a model with an oversized dial and oversized numbers, like the Easy To Read Big Dial Scale from Medline with rugged durability, a lower profile and a wider platform. It reads in 1-pound gradations. The Large Dial Scale features a durable steel base and oversized platform covered with a non-slip mat and a 6.5” dial that offers 1.5 lb and 0.5 kg gradations. Most of these bathroom scales will read up to 330 lb.  The Bariatric Scale with Large Raised Dial has a capacity of 400 lb.

Digital Bathroom Scales

If you don’t want to bother with finding your weight on a traditional dial face, consider a digital bathroom scale that flashes your exact weight on a display screen. These typically run on a 9V or lithium battery. Look for a good-sized platform for your size, about a 12” square. Some are made of glass or plastic while others are metal. Be sure to check the weight limit of a digital scale before you buy. In addition to displaying your weight, the Digital Bariatric Scale has an extra large glass platform featuring 4 customizable settings, and goal-tracking technology shows your current weight, your goal weight and the percentage change from your last weigh-in. It has an oversized 1.7” LCD display and a tap-on and auto shut-off.

Talking Scales

You may need or simply like the novelty of a digital talking scale that both announces and displays your weight in either pounds or kilograms (the mode can be switched easily with a touch of a button). Simply tap the Digital Talking Scale with your foot to wake it up and the scale will say "hello." A few moments later the scale will say "ready." Then step onto it and it will announce your weight to a tenth of a pound in a very loud, clear female voice as well as display the results on the large LED readout.

Bodyfat Monitors

Health experts caution that your weight alone doesn’t give a complete picture of fitness. Body composition—your BMI (body mass index)—including the percentage of fat you’re carrying is an important health indicator. Some weight scales also offer a bodyfat function to help you track your progress with fat loss. One example is the Trimmer Body Fat Scale displays bodyfat percentage to 0.1% using bioelectric impedence technology for bodyfat analysis. It’s customizable for up to 10 users and has a large 1.5” LCD display, an extra-large platform and a slim design.