Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I previously owned the Tanita 2001 body fat scale. When that one died, I upgraded to the 679W Duo model and have been very pleased.
FEATURES
The scale measures weight, body fat %, and body water %. The scale has 4 metal pads that will send a low-level electrical current through your body. People with higher muscle content will allow the electrical current to traverse their bodies with less resistance than a Mr. McFatty person. The scale measures this resistance and calculates your body fat and hydration levels from it. I have found the weight, body fat, and body water measurements to be highly accurate when compared to a couple other scales that I've stepped on recently.
EASE OF USE
There are three buttons on the face of the scale right below the display that allow you to input your sex, age, and height. It's all very simple to make selections and input these data. Along with these three face buttons are three toe buttons at the bottom of the scale. You can store personal info for two users (the sex, height, and age info) into two of the buttons. Then everyday when you want your measurements, if you're User 1, just touch Toe Button 1 or if you're User 2, touch Toe Button 2 and step on the scale. This way you do not have to input all that info every single time (like you need to with the Tanita 2001). This is a great feature. Some other brands or other Tanita models offer 2-10 User Memory, but they often do not have corresponding toe buttons, which means you still have to bend your fat self down and hit the user button with your finger first. Believe me, after 3 days of that, you're not going to want to do that anymore.
The third Toe Button is a Weight Toe Button that you can hit if you just want the scale to act as a normal scale. Finally, you can bend down and use your fingers to input age, height, and sex as a one-time use for a guest.
DURABILITY
I've had my scale for 9 months now and it's always worked fine with no problems. It takes 4 AA batteries, and I'm still using the ones that came included with the scale despite my nearly daily use. This is much better battery life than the Tanita 2001 model, which seemed to only last 4 months or so. You will only need to occasionally wipe off the metal footpads to keep them clean for accurate readings. No big deal.
PROBLEMS/MISCONCEPTIONS
Honestly, for about $50, there are no problems with this unit. It's a great buy. However, I read some negative reviews here from confused people. First, there are warnings all over the box and on the site that tell you not to use this product if you have a pacemaker or internal electronic device that's keeping you alive. This is obviously because it measures your body fat by sending an electrical current through your body. C'mon, think people. And this isn't just for the BF679W, it's for all "commercial" body fat scales. Second, reviewers talk about the consistency of the body fat measurements. Your body fat can fluctuate 1 or 2 percent over the course of the day with these types of electrical conductance measurements based on where your body is currently holding water. If you always take your reading at the same time each night (right before you goto bed is ideal), you'll typically find consistent readings within 0.5% - 1%. If you measure your body fat right after you wake up, there will be all kinds of water centrally concentrated in your bladder that will mess up the readings. Again, this happens with all commercial body fat scales. Finally, it's possible the BF679W tells you that you have 17% body fat and really you have 15% body fat based on thorough measurements from your doctor's office. I still think the number is going to be very close to your real body fat percentage. However, this scale will still be able to do a reliable, accurate job informing you when you've lost or gained an extra percent or two of body fat over the course of several weeks. So while your absolute body fat numbers could be slightly off with the BF679W, your relative gains and losses will still be highly quantifiable with this unit.
Overall, this is a outstanding, durable scale that delivers dependable readings. I strongly recommend it and would encourage people who are thinking of buying the Tanita 2001 or any other body fat scale that does not have toe buttons to purchase this model instead; it's worth it.
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Tanita BF679W Duo Scale Plus Body Fat Monitor with Body WaterThe Tanita BF679W Duo Scale Plus Body Fat Monitor can monitor both your body fat and body water percentages. This scale also features a daily calorie intake function that estimates how many calories should be consumed in a 24-hour period for a user to maintain current weight level, and a dual recall feature that compares bothcurrent weight and body fat readings to the previous readings. Why You Should Monitor Body Water and Fat Percentage If you're like most people, you're not drinking enough water. If you wait until you feel thirsty, your body is already suffering from the effects of mild dehydration. You continually lose water during the day through sweat, urine and breathing. The amount varies due to several reasons, including your physical activity level, illness, medications, poor nutrition, or even climatic conditions. Monitoring your body water percentage allows you to quickly compensate if your levels are low, allowing your body to function more efficiently. Having the right amount of water in your body will not only make you feel healthier, but you'll also reduce your risk of developing serious health problems in the longer term.High body fat levels can reduce your endurance and have been linked to heart disease cancer and diabetes. Tanita's body composition analyzers monitor your body fat and body water levels with Bioelectric Impedance Analysis, or BIA, the same advanced technology used by doctors. Foot pads send a low-level electrical signal. Then BIA measures the resistance to this signal as it travels through the body. The Tanita BF679W is calibrated for standard adults and children and stores data for 2 people and measures body fat in increments of 0.5 percentage points. This scale also features a guest mode, allowing you to use the unit without losing information already assigned to the personal keys. The scale's large, easy-to-read 2.25-inch, 2-line LCD shows weight and body fat simultaneously, and instantly compares these readings to healthy ranges based on the user's age and gender. Simply supply your gender, age, height and weight into the memory, step on the scale, and the monitor does the rest. The results are analyzed according to each user's information, and the result is the one of the most comprehensive at-home readings you can get.Operating on four AA batteries (included), the Tanita BF679W is intended for use by persons up to 300 pounds and is backed by Tanita's three-year warranty. Note: Pregnant women should not use this monitor, and if you have a pacemaker or other internal electronic medical device, you should not use the body fat reading feature.
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