French consumer electronics company Withings has introduced a smart body scale offering health assessments and an eyes-closed mode for those that dare not look.

The Body Smart scale provides precision weight and body composition measurements and combines multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), precision weight sensors and algorithms delivering insights and health analysis.

Health measurements include heart rate, visceral fat, metabolic age and basal metabolic rate.

Multifrequency BIA provides precise and consistent weight measurements up to 50g, and health insights, including tracking both health vital measurements and health condition assessments.

BIA works by sending a small electrical signal through the body, which measures the resistance and reactance of body tissues to the current. The more frequencies used, the more complete and accurate the picture of body health that can be created. Multifrequency BIA and algorithms enable Withings to dig deeper into body composition, expanding from measuring fat, muscle mass and water weight percentage to analysing visceral fat and other body metrics.

As part of its body composition analysis, Body Smart can also measure visceral fat, the type of fat that surrounds the internal organs that has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. Withings believes that by measuring and tracking visceral fat, users can better understand their overall health and take steps that might lower their chance of developing chronic diseases as well as heart health risks. Body Smart also provides cardiovascular measurements and insights by tracking standing heart rates.

For the first time, it will also be able to measure basal metabolic rate (BMR). BMR is the number of calories the body burns at rest, and it provides valuable information about the user’s overall metabolic health. By measuring BMR, users can better understand their overall health and make informed decisions about their diet and exercise. Body Smart uses this to calculate metabolic age, comparing how many calories a body burns at rest with others in an age group. These features will be available from this month onwards, following an automatic update.

A colour screen displays all the relevant information; however, for the timid, those preferring to be more discreet, or people who dare not look, it features an eyes closed mode. In this mode, the user’s weight is tracked in the accompanying Withings app but does not appear on the screen. Instead, users see encouraging, motivating messages or daily information such as step counts, air quality and the weather. Compatible with up to eight users, other modes include athletic, pregnancy and baby, to weigh accurately even the smallest family member.

“Body Smart is a fantastic addition to the Withings smart scale line and one of the most feature-rich scales at its price point on the market,” said Mathieu Letombe, CEO of Withings. “Designed to improve users’ lives, Body Smart elevates the market by providing highly precise and accurate readings along with insightful and actionable health data and advice. It brings a new level of precision and clarity to the complexities of health in a beautifully designed device that fits in any home.”

Body Smart connects to the Withings app to help users track trends and measurements over time, follow progress, and receive detailed health advice and assessments as well as daily inspiration for long-term progress. As with Body Comp and Body Scan in the range, it is also compatible with the Withings+ (formerly Health+) health improvement service. The subscription service guides users daily to build better habits to reach their goals in the long run by unlocking additional content such as metrics analysis, insights and guidance.

Body Scan featuring segmental body composition, a six-lead ECG with atrial fibrillation detection and electrodermal activity, already available in the European market, is expected to be available in the USA in Q3 2023 following FDA clearance.

Withings created the first smart scale in 2009 and has been the pioneer in connected health ever since.