# Help Me Buy A Scale **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 15, 2010, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-buy-a-scale/543248 "2010-06-15T02:55:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-buy-a-scale/543248/1 "2010-06-15T02:55:32Z")
I just purchased a $50 Health-O-Meter digital scale. On average, one of every 4 times I weighed myself, I would get a completely different number. Grrrrr. I’m starting WeightWatchers again and would like a reliable scale to track my progress. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-buy-a-scale/543248/2 "2010-06-15T04:12:48Z")
I have a digital scale with a glass top which says it is a Weight Watchers scale. I don’t know if they made it or just recommend it. I do like it, partly because it’s pretty and also because it seems to be very accurate, judging by its relationship to my doctor’s office scale. It’s at Amazon: [here](http://www.amazon.com/Weight-Watchers-Scale-Painted-Glass/dp/B003LKKI6M/ref=sr_1_37?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1276575005&sr=8-37) ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-buy-a-scale/543248/3 "2010-06-16T02:57:23Z")
Thank you, **kayT**. I appreciate your response. I’ll check it out! ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-buy-a-scale/543248/4 "2010-06-16T03:13:18Z")
> [@Ruby](#): > > I just purchased a $50 Health-O-Meter digital scale. On average, one of every 4 times I weighed myself, I would get a completely different number. Grrrrr. > > I’m starting WeightWatchers again and would like a reliable scale to track my progress. Any suggestions? How much does it vary by? Is it a matter of a few pounds? Your temporary weight can vary by as much as five pounds for the average person. Or even more if your drinking a lot of water or such. ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-buy-a-scale/543248/5 "2010-06-16T21:33:27Z")
My digital scale rounds off to the nearest two-tenths of an ounce. If I get off and get back on immediately, it sometimes will give a different number, although the variance is rarely more than a half-pound. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-buy-a-scale/543248/6 "2010-06-17T03:07:13Z")
No, this one would vary up to 10 lbs. stepping off and getting right back on. That’s just not right. Maybe I got a defective one but I think I’m gonna try another brand. Consumer Reports just tested them in February so I’m off to the library to check it out. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-buy-a-scale/543248/7 "2010-06-17T07:58:22Z")
I’ve never had a home scale that had a variance less than 10 lbs. I gave up on them long ago and now rely on the one at my doctor’s office. I also fond that weighing myself daily was maddening, even when pregnant. Once a week was right for me then. I now just do my best to eat sensibly, and not too much and see the result at my quarterly check in. I have shed 40 lbs since starting metformin in September. ---
**Author:** ![pudytat72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@pudytat72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pudytat72)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-buy-a-scale/543248/8 "2010-06-17T21:07:32Z")
Is the scale on carpeting? That can cause a big variation. Needs to be on a hard, smooth surface. I found it to be helpful to stand on the scale the same way every time, feet well centered on the scale or a bit more towards the “top” of the scale.