THE BATHROOM SCALE WILL DETECT DISEASE

- Body Scan 2 is a further development of Body Scan 1 with many new and a total of over 60 biomarkers. The goal is to help the user make the right choices to live healthier and longer, says Bruno Carreel at Withings.

We meet him in the first week of January, when Withings launches the product at the CES fair in Las Vegas.

- We map damage that diseases may have done to the body without you noticing it, says Carreel.

The new scale analyses the heart with impedance cardiography, which measures the contraction in each heartbeat and calculates the heart's contractility, age, and pumping efficiency.

- In addition, we still measure vascular age, which shows the stiffness of the arteries. Combined, this for the first time provides the opportunity to alert hypertension risk directly on the scale, says Carreel.

At each weighing, the user can be informed if there is a reason to take a cuff measurement to diagnose high blood pressure.

Metabolic status and nerve function

Body Scan 2 also assesses metabolic health.

- We measure nerve conduction in arms and legs to see if diabetes has damaged nerve function. We analyse fat and water distribution, which can indicate kidney disease, says Carreel to the trade magazine Elektronikkbransjen.

These data are used to calculate a glycaemic impact score.

– By combining all this, we can help people understand the consequences of daily choices and change habits before the damage becomes irreversible, says Carreel.

Usage and target audience

Typical customers are people in good shape who want to establish healthy habits.

– You need to start early to avoid complications later. To keep motivation up, you need measurements over time, says Carreel.

The scale is also used in the B2B market.

– Doctors can prescribe it for remote monitoring of patients with chronic conditions. This is becoming increasingly important, believes Carreel.

Measurements and features

A full scan takes 90 seconds.

– Twice a week is a good starting point, but the more data, the better the analysis, says Carreel.

The scale automatically recognises up to eight users based on weight and body composition.

– If two people are very similar, you manually select the user via the buttons, says Carreel.

Body Scan 2 has an improved handle with a screen, 12 electrodes for precise measurements, and a rechargeable battery with a 15-month lifespan.

The price will be around 500 euros in Europe and 600 dollars in the USA.

- It will go on sale in the second quarter of 2026, after clinical studies are completed and FDA approval is in place, says Carreel.

Body composition and risk

According to the manufacturer, Body Scan 2 provides very accurate body composition based on multiple frequencies.

- This is more important than BMI for assessing health risks. Two people with the same BMI can have completely different body compositions, says Carreel.

With data from 10 million users, Withings sees significant differences between muscular and overweight individuals with the same BMI. They have compiled this data into a physical representation they are bringing to Las Vegas, where you can see four different body types.

- Those with a high BMI are at the greatest risk, but healthy individuals should also monitor their progress over time, says Carreel.