While the user manual for the Withings Smart Weight Scale is not explicitly provided, the content highlights critical insights into the functionality and limitations of bioimpedance-based body composition analysis technology used in modern smart scales. Bioimpedance analysis (BIA) is a common feature in personal health devices, such as those produced by Withings. This feature is marketed for providing individuals with more detailed knowledge about their bodies by supplementing pure body weight measurements with body fat percentage estimations.
The analysis underscores a significant issue with BIA technology: it relies on algorithms that demand a binary sex/gender input (‘male’ or ‘female’). This binary requirement poses challenges for nonbinary and transgender individuals, who may not identify with these limited options. The user experience is brought into question through a personal narrative that describes the emotional impact and discomfort associated with using a device that does not account for nonbinary gender identities.
Furthermore, the content questions the physiological accuracy of BIA, explaining that the body fat percentage provided by smart scales like Withings’ is an estimation derived from proprietary equations, not a direct measurement. The authors illustrate the inaccuracy of these estimations by recounting an experiment where changing the gender input for a single user drastically altered the estimated body fat percentage by 10% points. This highlights the shaky scientific basis on which the smart scale operates and its reliance on exclusionary data.
To address these issues, the authors call for a reconsideration of how personal health technology, such as Withings’ smart scales, can be developed to be more inclusive. They stress the need for solutions that go beyond adding a third gender box or superficially marketing inclusivity. The recommendations suggest a redesign of algorithmic systems that underpin health technology to accommodate a broader range of human diversity, including gender, ethnicity, and other identity markers.
This in-depth look into the Withings Smart Weight Scale’s BIA technology presents a broader conversation regarding the intersection of gender, technology, and body autonomy. It emphasizes the importance of inclusive design in technology, especially in tools that are meant to offer personal health insights.
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