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Bioelectrical Impedance Scale

BIA Scale, Smart Scale, Body Composition Scale

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Meta Information

ID:bioelectrical-impedance-scale
Name:Bioelectrical Impedance Scale
Schema Version:1.5

Alternate Names

  • BIA Scale
  • Smart Scale
  • Body Composition Scale

Active Compound

null

Intervention Type

device

Delivery

Route:
none
Scope:
  • local

Regulatory Status

  • us:consumer_electronics

Indication

Focus:
healthspan
Description:
Estimates body composition metrics like body fat percentage, muscle mass, and visceral fat to track healthspan progress.

Typical Protocol

  • Use at the same time of day, under consistent hydration and fasting conditions.
  • Measure 2-4 times per month to track long-term trends rather than daily fluctuations.
  • Stand still with bare, dry feet placed correctly on the electrode pads.

Expected Cost Mean

Low Cost:
30
High Cost:
250
Cost Type:
equipment
Description:
One-time purchase of a consumer-grade scale; not covered by insurance.

Summary

A Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) scale sends a low, safe electrical current through the body. The resistance (impedance) to this current is measured, as fat, muscle, and water conduct electricity differently. This data is used in algorithms to estimate body composition, providing a non-invasive way to track key healthspan markers like muscle mass and visceral fat over time.

Purpose

Estimates body composition to track healthspan markers over time.

Card Summary

A non-invasive device for estimating body composition metrics like body fat and muscle mass to monitor healthspan trends.

Drug Class

null

Drugs In Class

Empty Array

Impact

Score:
4.5
Justification:
Provides valuable data to guide impactful lifestyle interventions, but has no direct biological effect.

Evidence

Grade:
B
Score:
6
Justification:
Well-studied technology, but accuracy varies and is inferior to clinical gold standards (DEXA).

Safety

Score:
1
Justification:
Extremely safe for general use; contraindicated for individuals with pacemakers or other implanted electronics.

Flags

  • Accuracy is highly sensitive to hydration status, time of day, and recent exercise.
  • Consumer-grade devices are best for tracking personal trends, not for absolute clinical accuracy.
  • Contraindicated for individuals with pacemakers or other implanted electronic medical devices.
  • Estimates can vary significantly between different brands and models due to proprietary algorithms.

Verdict

A useful tool for tracking body composition trends, not absolute values.

Created

2026-05-06T17:23:20.695363Z

Ai Model

Gemini 2.5 Pro (High)