Customer Reviews

Taylor 5564-4012 Body Fat Analyzer and Weight Scale

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Despite the reviews on this list, I bought the Taylor Body Fat analyzer (actually, it may be a slightly newer model, #5561), and went home and followed the directions exactly (I even read the disclaimers about hydration levels affecting accuracy). The weight was very close (if not exact) to the measurements I got at a weight watchers establishment. As for the body fat, I measured it 4 times within 10 minutes, and 3 out of 4 measurements were exactly the same, and the fourth measurement was only one tenth of a percent different. I can't speak for the absolute accuracy of the insturment, but it was also a very believable number. I don't know how it will last after time, but this seems like a decent buy to me.

I'm usually very good about reading reviews before buying. Unfortunately I read Consumer Reports before buying and not these reviews. While Consumer Reports rated it the best measurer of fat among those tested they did say it still had shortcomings but nothing like the ones experienced by the reviewers here or by me. Following the instructions I tested the machine out four times in twelve minutes. The weight reading was consistent but the four body fat readings I received were 20%, 21%, 24% and 24%. I can assure you I did not down a pizza in those twelve minutes. I am resigned to the fact that these machines are not accurate, I would take a water test for that. But I did expect consistency so that you could measure fat LOSS accurately, for that all you need is a machine to consistently give you the same error with each reading. Even that is too much to expect I guess. Back to the pinch test for me.

I bought these scales at Target because I figured digital scales would be pretty accurate, they had the Body Fat Analyzer, and they were on-sale for around $20, IIRC (I've had them for a few years now).

I've long suspected the scales were not entirely accurate, because I could weigh myself two times in a row, once with a 16 oz (or 1 lb) bottle of water, and once without, and my weight would not change.

I'm taking part in a weight-loss competition at work so I've been working out pretty actively the past few weeks, lost 15 pounds, and apparently my Body Fat has gone from 22% to 20%. Yesterday I had a pretty big lunch and dinner, and it's still in my system, and when I weighed myself this morning the scales showed I had gained 3 lbs. Understandable. But then they said my Body Fat was back up to 22%.

Oh really?

I grabbed my two 10 lb dumbbells and jumped back on the scales. They showed an accurate 20 lb increase in weight, but now they said my Body Fat was at 27%.

Really? Are you sure? Because my weight may have gone up but I'm pretty darn sure those 20 lbs are not fat. If anything, based on a ratio of actual body fat (if measured by bio-impedance as claimed) to total weight, my BF% should have gone down, but these scales claimed it went up. Clearly they do not measure your Body Fat via bio-impedance as they claim, or if they do the equation they use attributes too much to total body weight. I cannot even be sure of their reliability and accuracy as scales alone.

Stay away from this product, and maybe even this manufacturer. In my experience they do not make reliable, accurate products.

I have had this scale for probably 5-6 years now, and it's been very consistent and accurate, both in terms of weight and body fat measurement, for both my wife and I (~7% fat and ~24%, so very different ranges).

On the down side, sometimes the scale will turn itself on. It's like the weight of the scale itself is pressing down on the buttons. So just be aware of it if you own it.

I just bought this scale today and I am definitely returning it. I am having the same problems other people are having; mainly different results every time I step on it! I'm buying another scale that other people gave a good review.

I bought this scale because my old digital scale broke right in the middle of my weight loss efforts. I thought I would replace it with a body fat analyzer/scale to get a better picture of my fitness progress. Was I ever disappointed! First off, I don't think it is humanly possible to make it more complicated to get the BFA reading. But more important than that, after about six tries, I only got it to give me a BFA reading ONCE, could never get it to store my information so it didn't ask to re-enter it every time I turned it on AND on top of that, the button that you are supposed to push to move from the weighing to the BFA mode completely quit working. Obiouvsly, it is NOT well-made. The instructions said to hold the button in for two seconds when you turn it on and the scale will go into memory mode. What a joke--I barely pressed on the button and it seemed to go crooked in its housing, as if broken. Certainly, it didn't break from the light touch I gave it, so it was obviously made poorly. After that, it pretty much refused to go on. Finally, it came back on once more, gave me my BFA reading and went off, never to come on again. I would agree with the first reviewer--by the Tanita brand and skip this cheap, inaccurate, frustrating scale. You will be glad you never got it.

This scale is great it measures your weight within .5 lbs which I think is great. I am not sure how accurate the body fat analyser is because my body fat would swing 5% in a matter of 24 hours. This might be right but it doesnt seem right to me.

Could not have been worse! After months of barely-acceptable performance, it totally freaked out! First started acting weak, so I bought new batteries. Then beeping constantly through the night. I took out the battery. DO NOT BUY THIS SCALE FROM TAYLOR!!!!!

I've been mostly just using this as a plain scale, not bothering much with the body fat portion yet, and it's horrible. I can step on the scale several times in a row and have my weight vary by as much as 8 lbs! If I was planning on GUESSING what my weight was, I wouldn't have purchased a scale to begin with!

WEll, Consumer Reports got me to buy this model. Tested it out, myself and partner. My BF %, eath time, two days, 7.5%! I may be in good shape, but NOT that good....