Omron HBF-500 Body Composition Monitor with Scale

The scales seem extremely accurate and very easy to use. The body fat monitor is way, way off. It's at least 9% higher than my handheld unit. I'm in the high-normal range on the handheld but "very high" range on the scales. I'm very active and generally very fit so I'm going with the handheld calculator.

Bio-electrical impedance fat % measurements can be totally inaccurate if you use only a hand-held device or just a foot-to-foot body fat scale like the HBF-400. Since electricity takes the shortest path through your body, hand-held devices really only measure your upper body fat, and foot-to-foot ones only measure your lower body fat. With the HBF-400 I get a readout of 25% body fat, which I know for a fact is way off. My body fat is between 15-20%, I had it measured at the gym. In order to get an accurate reading from the HBF-400 I have to bend down, lift one heel off the scale, and place two fingers on the spot your heel is supposed to go. Doing so gives me a readout of 17.5%. I may have to go ahead and buy this HBF-500 at some point as it is clearly superior, using hand AND foot contacts to measure your entire body at once. Maybe Amazon will take the HBF-400 back if I complain about it's shoddy performance.

I don't consider this scale to be a good value. For this price, it should always register the same weight. I like that it is easy to read my weight, but I hate that I can step on the scale 3 different times and get 3 different weights. It's SO annoying! I find myself averaging the weights - it usually can't decide between 3...so I'll step on like 6 times...resulting in 3 different weights...which I'll average. It's annoying. I have to believe there's a less expensive scale out there that is consistent. Also, the body fat function is rubbish. If you're an athlete, don't even think about buying this scale for that purpose. I'd find a different scale full stop. It does actually get really close to the scale at my gym...but the weight changing thing gets on my last precision-loving nerve.

I have recently lost 30 lbs and bought this to check my progress in my fat loss. When I got it I was dissapointed in myself because of the high fat content. I thought I had made more progress, but this rated me at 28.1% fat. I used a skin fold caliper from the gym and it said I was 26.1% fat. Not too far off. I thought I could use it to track my progress. I started lifting weights 4 days a week for an hour and a half a session. I monitored my intake of protein, carbs, and fat. I drank 2 protein shakes with creatine and glutamine a day. I hit the treadmill for at least 30 minutes a day, 6 days a week. My weight dropped 4 pounds in a month, but the scale said I was losing muscle and fat. I was pretty upset with my progress. I was hoping it was the scale. I decided to read some of the negative reviews here at amazon and saw other people have similar experiences. One reveiwer did an experiment holding weights while standing on the scale and I thought I would try that. With no weights I was 27.1% fat, holding 10 lbs I was 28.6% fat, 20 lb weights = 29.9% fat, 30 lbs = 31.6% fat. This scale apparently just takes your weight, height, and age and gives you an average fat percentage.
The scale said I was 27.1% fat. A loss of 1% body fat that month(loss of 3 lbs of fat and loss of 1 lb of muscle). I got the caliper from the gym again and found I had actually dropped to 22.6% fat in that month (lost 8 lbs of fat and gained 4 lbs of muscle). This scale almost made me give up on trying to get in better shape. I know it says its not for athletes, but they didn't give their definition of athlete. I certainly don't consider myself an athlete, but I guess the manufacturer of this scale does.
If you workout at all, this scale is not for you. If your just on a diet, it's probably OK.

I purchased this scale the end of August and I absolutely love it.
My other scale would give you different readings each time I stepped on the scale. This one is very accurate. I know you will be pleased with it also. Another nice feature is that you can program different users in it and track the progress.