Scales: useful when you want a stable trend, not a random number

Scales are simple devices, but they become much more useful when the same person weighs themselves in a similar way each time. The most useful scale is the one that gives a steady reading and is easy to live with at home.

Some people want a basic weight scale, while others look for extra measurements such as body composition. Extra functions can be helpful, but only if they make the routine clearer rather than more confusing.

If weight changes are fast, unexplained, or come with swelling, breathlessness, loss of appetite, or a clear change in wellbeing, seek care. A scale can show change, but it cannot explain why the change is happening.