Are Digital Scales More Accurate Than Analog Ones?
We all stepped onto the old analogue scale and insisted that the number was wrong – it must be the scale! But is buying expensive new digital scales with all their additional features more accurate?
For the most part, you may find a digital scale is the best option; they usually require less calibration and, in the first place, are more accurate. However, there are a few things you should consider before purchasing, in particular why some additional functions might not be useful and why consistency is necessary when weighing on any scale – digital or not.
Analogue balances can be subject to wear and tear
As a background, analog scales weigh you with springs, while digital scales usually work with sensors. In particular, digital scales rely on load cells that are attached to load cells (which flex under your weight). When these sensors are stretched, it sends a signal to a transducer, which digitizes the signal, creating a readable number on your scale.
Digital scales tend to be more accurate for a number of reasons, according to Julie Devinsky , clinical nutritionist at Mount Sinai Hospital. First, the springs on analog scales can wear out gradually and give inaccurate readings over time.
There’s also no real way to look at the decimal measurement, meaning you’ve either looked at 164 or 165 pounds or somewhere in the middle, no real way to measure the exact number in between (if you ‘re concerned about that specificity).
Moreover, you can easily read the number on the digital scale. If you’ve ever stepped on an analog scale and squinted to figure out exactly where the line is pointing, there is little room for error in reporting your weight yourself, as opposed to the number on a digital scale.
Digital scales have additional features, but you may not need them
Meanwhile, digital scales can have a number of other useful functions, such as recording weighing history. However, other possibilities are questionable. (The idea that a scale can accurately measure your body fat, ” hydration ” or bone density, as this product boasts on Amazon, is suspect – however, you can ignore these additional features if you decide to buy one.) are expensive and require regular battery replacement, unlike standard analog scales.
When it comes to research confirming that one type of scale is more accurate than another, there are not many; A 2013 study that tested 61 home weight scales found that dial analog scales tended to be less accurate, but without a clear reason why.
The researchers speculate that digital scales may have “fewer moving parts to fail or damage,” as well as possible self-esteem errors on the part of participants. Analog scales were nearly twice the age of the digital scales we tested, suggesting that wear and tear may have played a role.
Consistency Is The Key To Success When Moving To The Scale
With both types of scales, there are several things you must do to maintain overall accuracy.
First, you should always weigh yourself on a hard, flat surface; As writes Wirecutter , placement of any scale on the carpet or uneven surfaces may cause inaccurate readings. You should also calibrate the scale as often as possible. On an analogue scale, this is fairly easy to do using the knob on the side of the scale. You should consult the instructions for calibrating your digital scale, although this is also a fairly straightforward process.
If your goal is to lose weight, Devinsky also provides another key piece of advice: Don’t get hung up on the scale. “The practice of constant weighing can become intrusive for many of my clients,” she said in an email. “Plus, your natural body weight can range from 3 to 5 pounds, so weighing yourself daily can be an ineffective way to track your progress.”
Instead, weigh yourself weekly (or even less often) and stay consistent using the same scales at the same time each time you decide to step on them (for example, in the morning).
As Wirecutter notes, even imprecise scale can make a difference; if you see a number increase or decrease over several weeks or months, even if the number itself is incorrect, it can still serve as a useful measure of your overall progress.