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 Does atmospheric pressure affect the bathroom scales? |
bonnie knox |
I weigh myself almost every morning. I noticed that my weight was less this morning than it has been recently despite the fact that I've been enjoying quite a bit of Christmas chocolate and goodies.
We are having a rainy day here (which I assume means low pressure), and I just wondered if the atmospheric pressure affects the bathroom scales. |
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Posts: 14803
1/2/17 10:48 am
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| Bonnie... |
Aaron Scott |
| why look a gift horse in the mouth? |
Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology
Posts: 6042
1/2/17 12:01 pm
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| Re: Bonnie... |
bonnie knox |
| Aaron Scott wrote: | | why look a gift horse in the mouth? |
Aaron, I know that's probably a rhetorical question, but there are lots of reasons I wonder about it.
I'll have you know I play with the scales to see if they are really accurate. These particular scales are battery operated and supposedly weigh to the nearest 2/10th of a lb. However, if you've ever taken a decent high school chemistry class precision and accuracy are two different beasts. To prove this to myself, I have weighed, stepping on with my right foot first then with my left foot first. Then to make sure the scales weren't just stuck in a grove, I would just put one leg on the scales just to get a different number, then weigh my whole body again.
My conclusion is that these scales are precise to within a couple of tenths of a pound, but are probably only accurate to within a pound or two.
The other thing is a couple months ago I put on a few pounds with no apparent reason, and now I wonder if they are coming off with no apparent reason. Could it be fluctuations in blood sugar, internal cysts swelling and shrinking, fluid retention, changes in metabolism due to hormonal changes or age? (Or wouldn't it be so much nicer to chalk it up to changes in atmospheric humidity or barometric pressure, lol!) |
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Posts: 14803
1/2/17 2:32 pm
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| Heres a thought.. |
c6thplayer1 |
| As atmospheric pressure changes with the weather this change does need to be considered. When atmospheric pressure is higher, our bodies will be more buoyant in the atmosphere and hence the downward pressure when we stand on the scales will be less. The difference for an average person is in the region of 6 grams. |
Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology
Posts: 6385
1/2/17 5:40 pm
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| Re: Heres a thought.. |
bonnie knox |
c6th, I found that thought on the internet, too, but the one I liked best was this one:
"no, i don't think so. when you're standing on a bathroom scale there is little space around your feet for the 'atmosphere' to add up to your weight.
and even if it did, the effect would be very negligible."
She sounds like she has as good a grasp on physics as I do.
| c6thplayer1 wrote: | | As atmospheric pressure changes with the weather this change does need to be considered. When atmospheric pressure is higher, our bodies will be more buoyant in the atmosphere and hence the downward pressure when we stand on the scales will be less. The difference for an average person is in the region of 6 grams. |
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Posts: 14803
1/2/17 5:49 pm
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| Re: Heres a thought.. |
c6thplayer1 |
| bonnie knox wrote: | c6th, I found that thought on the internet, too, but the one I liked best was this one:
"no, i don't think so. when you're standing on a bathroom scale there is little space around your feet for the 'atmosphere' to add up to your weight.
and even if it did, the effect would be very negligible."
She sounds like she has as good a grasp on physics as I do.
| c6thplayer1 wrote: | | As atmospheric pressure changes with the weather this change does need to be considered. When atmospheric pressure is higher, our bodies will be more buoyant in the atmosphere and hence the downward pressure when we stand on the scales will be less. The difference for an average person is in the region of 6 grams. |
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I would say that if there was a change due to atmospheric pressure , your normal bathroom scales would not be sensitive enough to reflect that change to a degree that you would notice. Is this the wrong thing to say to a woman?
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Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology
Posts: 6385
1/2/17 6:56 pm
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| Re: Heres a thought.. |
Cojak |
| c6thplayer1 wrote: | Is this the wrong thing to say to a woman?
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Not to change the subject because I am enjoying it, but, BUT does that statement come from 'normal male mis-statements? 
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Posts: 24285
1/2/17 9:28 pm
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| Re: Heres a thought.. |
c6thplayer1 |
| Cojak wrote: | | c6thplayer1 wrote: | Is this the wrong thing to say to a woman?
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Not to change the subject because I am enjoying it, but, BUT does that statement come from 'normal male mis-statements? |
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Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology
Posts: 6385
1/2/17 9:35 pm
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Nature Boy Florida |
Step on the scales - add 5 - you probably weigh less than that amount.
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Whether you like it or not, learn to love it, because its the best thing going today! |
Acts-pert Poster
Posts: 16646
1/4/17 9:42 am
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bonnie knox |
| Nature Boy Florida wrote: | | Step on the scales - add 5 - you probably weigh less than that amount. |
Can you put a percentage with that probability? |
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Posts: 14803
1/4/17 11:21 am
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Link |
Maybe it does. That's a relief. I thought it was just me.
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Posts: 11849
1/4/17 11:59 pm
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bonnie knox |
I was once by someone not to keep the scales in the bathroom because the humidity can affect them.
(I keep mine in the hallway.)
If I eat a high sodium meal, I will usually retain enough fluid to affect my weight the next morning.
| Link wrote: | | Maybe it does. That's a relief. I thought it was just me. |
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Posts: 14803
1/5/17 8:07 am
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Link |
I wonder if atmospheric pressure effects water retention or cravings for salt. 
Maybe I just carry a cloud of atmospheric pressure with me. Maybe it's atmospheric pressure beneath my feet.
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1/5/17 9:43 pm
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