The Bottom Line
I love shiny, computerized gadgets, but I've never been a fan of scales. I'll make an exception for the Tanita InnerScan simply because it goes well beyond just total body weight and provides measurements for visceral fat, bone mass, muscle mass, metabolic age and even gives you a physique rating by using Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis. Having this information can make measuring progress more meaningful than just a number on a scale.
Pros
- This high-tech monitor measures everything from weight and body fat to body water and visceral fat %
- Easy to use, once you get it set up, and can store details for up to 4 people
- Gives you ratings for all your measurements so you know where you need to improve
Cons
- Techno-phobes may have a hard time setting it up
- Accuracy is affected greatly by hydration levels
- A little pricey at $80-$120
Description
- The InnerScan is a body composition scale that monitors everything from body weight to body fat
- It can store data for up to 4 users, providing information about bone mass, muscle mass and more
- An excellent tool for tracking progress and getting a better idea of your changing body composition
Guide Review - Tanita InnerScan Body Composition Monitor
I'm no fan of scales. In fact, I haven't even stepped on a scale in years, which is why the space-age looking Tanita InnerScan surprised me. My, how far scales have come over the years. What makes this scale actually interesting to me is that it doesn't just tell you how much you weigh, it also tells you your percentage of body water, daily caloric intake, metabolic age rating, visceral fat, muscle mass, bone mass, physique rating and what you should eat for dinner. Okay, not the last one but still...not bad for a scale. It works by using BIA (Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis) which is an electrical signal sent through the body. As the current encounters different kinds of fluids and tissues, it will determine how much of it is fat (fat is harder to get through) and how much is muscle (the current will pass easily through muscle, which is made up of mostly water). Note: This way of measuring body fat can be affected by hydration, food intake and skin temperature. Through no fault of the scale, I weighed myself just after I ate lunch (which I do not recommend) and immediately decided it was wrong, wrong, wrong. I got a better number when I followed their advice to wait about 3 hours after getting up, eating or exercising. It's a bit complicated to set up but, if you weigh yourself under the same circumstances once a week or so, you'll be able to see if you're losing fat and not muscle.
