REVIEW – I have been using Withings scales every day to track my weight since I reviewed their first WiFi Body Scale back in 2010 and more recently, the Withings Body Cardio Scale that I reviewed in 2016. I find their scales to be excellent as far as reliability and ease of use. Can I say the same thing about their new Body Composition Scale? Let’s find out!
What is it?
The Withings Body Composition Scale is a wireless battery-powered scale that tracks various health metrics including weight, BMI, fat %, muscle mass %, visceral fat, heart rate, EDT (electrodermal activity score), and more.
What’s in the box?
- Withings Body Comp scale
- 4 AA batteries pre-installed
- 4 feet for carpet
Tech specifications
Weighing range: 9 – 440lb (5 – 200kg)
50g (0.1lb) graduation
Units: kg, lb, st lb
Dimensions: 12.8 x 12.8 x 1.1 in. / 325x325x25,6mm
Power: 4x 1.5V Alkaline cells (AAA)
Design and features
Before I get into the review, have you ever wondered how to pronounce Withings? I just assumed it was WITH-INGS but it turns out that I’m wrong! It’s really WEE-THINGS. Check out the video where they explain the origin of their brand name.
The Withings Body Composition Scale has a glass top and a small display like the previous two Withings scales that I have used. It’s available in black (as shown), as well as white.
However, the new Withings Body Composition Scale’s display is color instead of white on black (you can’t really see it in the image above, but you’ll be able to see it in the video below). This is a nice update that makes the information pop on the display as you’re standing there viewing your updated stats.
If you flip the scale over, you’ll find the battery compartment.
Unlike the Body Cardio scale that I’d been using, the Withings Body Composition Scale does not have rechargeable batteries. This scale uses 4 AAA batteries and comes with them pre-installed. Some people will like this and some might not since they will want to always have extra batteries on hand. For me, it’s not a big deal especially because a set of batteries should last up to 15 months.
The scale has feet that are designed for hard floors but if you need to use the scale on carpeted floors, a set of larger feet are included in the package.
These larger feet attach easily to the Withings Body Composition Scale to provide a larger surface area for better balance on carpeting.
The Withings app
The Withings Body Composition Scale uses the same app that all Withings products use, so setting up the new scale is really easy. I found that the app immediately detected the new scale and allowed me to weigh in within seconds. The new weigh-ins integrated with my timeline and past weigh-ins with the previous scale so that everything was seamless and easy.
The app gives you a simple way to view your data for all of your tracked stats and drill down into day, week, month, quarter, year, and all graphs.
Oops, I’m gaining fat which isn’t good! The app helps you spot trends that are either good or could be improved.
In addition to weight, and fat, the Withings Body Composition Scale tracks other health markers too, like your water mass %, bone mass %, muscle mass %, standing heart rate, and vascular age.
The additional sensors in the Withings Body Composition Scale track new biomarkers that include:
Electrodermal Activity – Measure skin response via sweat gland stimulation in your feet.
Visceral fat – It is the fat stored deep inside the belly and around your organs. Visceral fat can be associated with chronic health conditions.
Vascular age – Monitors the age of arteries to give a clearer picture of your heart’s health. If your vascular age is assessed as significantly greater than your chronological age, you may be more at risk for vascular diseases later in life.
Nerve Health Score (NHS) – Nerve Health Score (NHS) measures and assesses the activity of the sweat glands in the soles of your feet and helps detect and follow-up peripheral autonomic neuropathies. Sweat gland activity is measured by stimulating the nerves that control the sweat glands in your feet and seeing how they respond. (read more)
See it in action
Don’t freak out about my elevated heart rate. I was running up and down the stairs before I got on the scale. 😉
I didn’t catch it on the video, but when you first step on the scale it shows who is on the scale. The Body Comp scale can have up to 8 users and it will detect who is on the scale based on past weigh-ins. If two or more users are of similar weight, it will allow you to choose.
What I like
- Runs on regular batteries
- Easy to set up
- Helps you see trends
What I’d change
- Nothing
Final thoughts
Like all of Withings products, the Withings Body Composition Scale is another winner. I like how easy it is to use. No fumbling to connect it to my phone or WiFi with every weigh-in, because it does everything effortlessly in the background. I like how I can look back on over a decade of data in the Withings app and that it helps me spot trends that I want to continue or change. The addition of the new biomarkers is icing on the cake because as a data hound, I like knowing everything I can about my body so I can stay above ground for as long as possible!
Price: $199.95
Where to buy: Withings and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Withings.
