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| Omron HBF-500 Body Composition Monitor with Scale | 
 enlarge | Brand: Omron
Category: Health And Beauty
List Price: $99.99
Buy New: $63.95
You Save: $36.04 (36%)
New (19) from $63.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  280 reviews
Sales Rank: 152
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries: 4
Size: HBF-500
Shipping Weight (lbs): 10.1
Dimensions (in): 13 x 15 x 3
Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product.
MPN: OMRHBF500
Model: HBF-500
UPC: 073796265007
EAN: 0073796265007
ASIN: B000KK02X0
Release Date: January 1, 2007
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Promotion: Save $5.00 when you spend $25.00 or more on Qualifying Items offered by Amazon.com. Enter code BMLSAVES at checkout. Terms and Conditions
Availability: Usually ships in 4 to 5 weeks
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| Customer Reviews:
 body fat % WAY OFF ! September 21, 2007
26 out of 30 found this review helpful
This is a good scale other than the body fat percentage IS way off. I work in a weight loss office and we have a machine that cost thousands of dollars and many hand held units that cost only fifty dollars a piece. Those units (all seven of them) have my body fat at 22%. This machine reads 32%. I also read 22% with the use of calibers. The odds of 8 different methods being incorrect and this machine being right are not good !
Usefull Tool March 15, 2008
24 out of 24 found this review helpful
I don't do reviews often, but this product (and/or a similar model) have taken some knocks that my experience contradicts.
First off, I think expectations need to be realistic if you are going to buy any kind of scale or monitor.
1) Weight: No two scales read the same. They may be darn close, but rarely the same. What should be expected is that the scale always reads the same weight over time. I have a dumbbell that says it's 10 lbs and I have seen three scales say it's anywhere from 9.5 to 10.3 lbs. So you can demand consistency, but realistically for most of us absolute accuracy is just not practical.
2) Body Fat or Composition: Unless you can find (and pay for) a DEXA (Dual Energy X-Ray) or Hydrostatic (full immersion weighing) test this number is totally subjective. A while back I had two physical therapist/trainers that work in a medical rehab/training facility check my composition using the calipers method ten minutes apart. The results were 29% and 34%. They were not surprised, said they were usually within 2%-3% of each other.
I don't want it to sound like I am lowering the bar here, just trying to be realistic.
So, what about the Omron HBF-500?
As for weight, my HBF-500 has said from day one that my "10lb" dumbbell is 9.6 lbs (it's mate is always 9.7). Who's right, Omron or Weider? No idea. So who cares if the scale is off by 4% or if that dumbbell is really 4% lighter than advertised? The fact is that is is consistent, and if it says that on the day I got it I weighed 296 and I now weight 275, it is that 26lb difference that is important.
Same thing for composition. I feel it is the change over time that is important, not the absolute accuracy. What I have found is that I have to be consistent in using the device. Lay off the H2O for a day and the number changes, hop on the scale after a hot shower, the number changes. Same for after a meal or exercise. I have has the best results using it once a week, at the same time of the day (for me, first thing in the morning on Mondays) before I eat and shower.
Functions/Usability:
1) Read the manual. It's not great, but after I used the thing two or three times it became simpler.
2) The memory/user functions are nice, but to be honest I think the biggest advantage of the user function is that I do not have to re-enter my age, sex, etc.. each time. Use the enclosed for or write down the results, I'm a geek so trust me when I say it's just simpler than the memory functions.
Overall I think it is a great tool for measuring changes, if not absolute numbers. And if you think about it, the changes are what matters, either as a warning that you are making progress in a direction you do not want to go, or as a reinforcement that you are doing things right and seeing results.
If accuracy is a big deal for you, pay for the professional tests, use the device at home and note the difference. The apply that correction to the measurements you get at home. For me, the $400 -$600 cost of the tests for one shot vs. the cost of the HBF-500 to use whenever I like answered the absolute accuracy question.
 I didn't like what I read... February 9, 2007
23 out of 25 found this review helpful
but guess that my body fat (BFI) and body mass (BMI) index readings are a wake up call to lower! This scale is solidly built, easy to read, and simple to operate. The "metal colored plastic" is extensive, but does not detract from the scale's aesthetics. Getting the scale to display your weight only is simple. However, getting it to display your BFI and BMI are a little more daunting, but simple when you get the hang of it. The controls (on-off) and the logic of the readings are very intuitive. I use my feet to easily turn it on and off and select weight-only or body fat index. No need to bend down or get on the floor! As for accuracy, I can't totally weigh in (bad pun). Did note that the BFI and BMI readings were fairly close to those measured in a recent doctor visit, which is why I bought this scale in the first place. One last positive: the scale takes four AA batteries (included), which is much better than lithium, since AA's are cheaper and more readily available. All in all, an economical start toward monitoring a shape-up, weight loss program.
Serious healthy weight loss tool for the price of a scale July 13, 2007
21 out of 23 found this review helpful
If you are willing to spend a few minutes with the manual, and are interested in healthy weight loss, then this is a great product. This scale will measure body fat and skeletal muscle. This is important because unhealthy weight loss can be accomplished at the expence of muscle and often leads to quick regain of the weight with more fat than you originally started with. The scale does not give 100% accurate measure of body fat or skeletal muscle BUT the readings are consistant if you do them at the start of each day. This means you can see if you are loosing fat (yeah!)or muscle (boo!) over time. Don't trust any one measurement as it will vary based on fluid intake and other factors. It is better to get an average over several days to see your present level. I am tracking my progress carefully and though I am loosing weight slower, I am actually loosing fat at the same time I am gaining muscle. If I had a regular scale I might assume I wasn't loosing much weight at all and restricted my calories too much or over exercised. Oh yeah, the scale works great also.
Inaccurate body fat percentage November 15, 2006
20 out of 34 found this review helpful
In the user manual there is a whole list of people who it will provide inaccurate body fat percentage measurements for and body builders are one of them. I wish I had known this before. Now I have to waste about $20 in shipping to return it.
DO NOT BUY FOR BODY FAT MEASUREMENTS
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