Are body composition scales safe? Pacemakers, pregnancy and what to check
For most healthy adults a body composition scale is safe to use. A few groups should not use the body-composition feature, or should talk to their doctor first. This guide explains who, and why.
Short answer. Body composition scales pass a very small electrical current through your body. People with a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device should not use the body-composition feature, and the authors of a 2023 Heart Rhythm study do not recommend consumer bioimpedance devices for people with cardiac implants. During pregnancy, use weight only.
How the current works
A bioimpedance scale passes a very small alternating current through your body, between metal plates under your feet and, on some models, grips in your hands. You cannot feel it. The scale measures how much the current is slowed and estimates fat, muscle and water from that.
People with a pacemaker or another implanted electronic device
Do not use body-composition measurement. A 2023 study in Heart Rhythm, led from the University of Utah, used simulations and bench tests on consumer smart scales, watches and rings with bioimpedance sensors, and tested three cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators from different makers. The authors do not recommend these consumer devices for people with cardiac implants because of possible interference, and one of them advises avoiding them as a precaution until more clinical data are available.
Use a weight-only scale, or ask your cardiologist or device clinic. Clinics may use professional equipment under supervision, which is a different situation from a home scale.
Pregnancy
Body composition estimates are built for non-pregnant adults, so the readings are not meaningful during pregnancy. Everhale does not measure body composition for a pregnant profile: the app is designed to switch the scale to weight only. For weight, follow your midwife's or doctor's advice.
Age
Most adult scales are designed for adults. Everhale is designed for adults aged 18 and over.
Other situations
If you have another medical device or condition and you are unsure, ask your doctor before using any body composition scale. A wellness scale does not diagnose or treat anything.
A safe-use checklist
- Read the warnings in the manual before the first use.
- If you have an implanted device or are pregnant, say so in the app profile, so the scale does a weight-only reading.
- Step on with dry feet and a dry floor: wet glass is slippery.
- Stay under the weight limit (the Everhale scale holds up to 180 kg).
- Stand still and hold the grips as described in the manual.
Common questions
Can I use a body fat scale if I have a pacemaker?
No. Do not use body-composition measurement with a pacemaker or another implanted electronic device. Use a weight-only scale and ask your cardiologist or device clinic.
Is it safe to use a body composition scale while pregnant?
Use weight only. Body composition estimates are built for non-pregnant adults. Follow your midwife's or doctor's advice about weight.
Can I feel the current?
No. The current is very small and cannot be felt.
Is the Everhale scale a medical device?
No. Everhale is a wellness product. It does not diagnose, treat or prevent any condition.
Sources
Keep reading
- How to choose a body composition scale in NZ
- 8-electrode vs 4-electrode body fat scales
- Body fat, muscle, visceral fat and BMR explained
- How accurate are body fat scales vs DEXA?
Everhale is a wellness product, not a medical device. This guide is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or a dietitian about your own health.