Laica PS5008 - Electronic Personal Scale Manual

Introduction

New personal electronic scale allowing identifying the basal metabolic rate and body composition (percentage of fat, water and skeletal musculature) according to the height, age and gender.
The exact knowledge of body composition (calculation of the lean mass, fat mass, total body water and skeletal musculature) and the basal metabolic rate allows a correct assessment of exceeding fat and, at the same time, the detection of the ideal weight according to the nutritional status. Therefore, it is possible to combine correct feeding and physical activity as essential conditions to improve life quality, promote health, and prevent diseases. It is equipped with a memory function up to 10 persons.
Capacity 150 kg / 330 lb / 24 st - Division 100 g / 0.2 lb / 1 lb

• The percentage of body fat and water, as well as of skeletal musculature and the value of the basal metabolic rate are to be considered merely indicative.
  For any further information, refer to a doctor or dietician.

• Self-measuring means control, it does not mean diagnosis or treatment. Any unusual levels should always be discussed with your doctor. Under no circumstances must you change the dose of medicines prescribed by your Doctor.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO CAREFULLY READ THE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS IN THIS BOOKLET BEFORE USE AND TO KEEP THE BOOKLET IN A SAFE PLACE.

BODY COMPOSITION

It is important to know the body composition of an individual in order to be able to estimate his/her health condition. Actually, it is not enough to know one's weight but it is necessary to define its quality, which means dividing the human body in its two major component masses:

• lean body mass: bones, muscles, viscera, water, organs, blood;
• fat body mass: adipose cells.

Under the same conditions of weight, these two masses have different volumes. By means of electrodes placed on the platform, the scale sends a weak low intensity electric current that passes through the body mass. The electric current reacts in a different way according to the masses it passes through: the lean body mass opposes a weak resistance, while the fat body mass has a greater resistance.
This body resistance, called bioelectrical impedance, varies also in function of sex, age and height.
For a correct control of your healthy weight, besides the weight, it is important to compare the percentage of fat calculated by the scale with the parameters quoted in the table, as well as to assess your own percentage of water, skeletal musculature and basal metabolic rate using the information provided here below.
Should the percentages be outside the normal values, it is suggested you refer to your own doctor. It is suggested to take note of these values for a given period of time in order to understand them better.
In order to obtain a valid comparison, you should weigh yourself always at the same time of the day and under the same conditions. The best moment to weigh yourself is in the morning, before breakfast, without clothes. You have to wait 15 minutes after getting up, so that the water can distribute itself throughout the body.

Body fat mass percentage
The percentage of fat listed in the following table, represents the total fat, calculated by summing up the essential fat (or primary fat) and the spare fat (or storage fat). The essential fat is necessary since it is needed for the metabolism. The percentage of this fat is different between the two sexes: about 4% for men and about 12% for women (percentage calculated on the total body weight). The spare fat, which is theoretically superfluous, is necessary in a minimum quantity for a healthy condition, especially for those who carry out physical activities. Even in this case, the fat percentage is different between the two sexes: 12% for men, 15% for women (percentage calculated on the total body weight).
Therefore, the normal percentage of fat mass on the body weight is approximately 16% for men and 27% for women.
Such percentages differ with the person's age as shown in the table here below.

TABLE BODYFAT

% of skeletal musculature
The muscles are the motors of the skeleton and through the energy they give off during contraction, they let us move, perform and control movements of the head, body and upper and lower limbs. There are three different types of muscular tissue: smooth, striated skeletal and striated cardiac. The striated cardiac muscle is the heart. It is the only organ formed of striated fibre, which involuntarily contracts. Smooth muscles are formed of smooth fibres, which are only found in the digestive tract, the respiratory tract and the genitals, in the walls of the venous and arterial blood vessels. Smooth muscular tissue is not voluntarily controlled. Striated skeletal muscular tissue, also called voluntary because it contracts according to our will, forms the skeletal and facial muscles in humans. The job of striated voluntary muscles is to move the skeleton, allowing us to move and communicate with our surroundings. This scale indicates the % of skeletal musculature in the body.
On an average, the 40% of the body weight is made up of the skeletal muscles. In general, the percentage can increase in sportspeople in case of very prolonged physical activity. If a moderate and daily physical activity is carried out, the % tends to increase but slowly. (The difference can be noticed after months of activity.) With the help of the physical activity, also the fluid balance in the body is improved. The percentage of musculature starts to decrease with the increase of age (after 40).

Water percentage
Water is the main component of lean body mass; the water percentage over the fat body mass is 73%. The lean body mass is obtained by subtracting from the total weight the fat body mass (for instance for a 25-year old man, with a fat body mass of 17%, lean body mass is equivalent to 83%).
About 60% of the body weight is made up by water: it therefore represents the fundamental component of every living being and it is necessary to keep us alive.

Instructions and guarantee

Women (having normally more adipose tissue than men), have a water percentage of about 55-58%, while men have about 60-62% of it.
The water percentage is greater in childhood (at birth it varies from 70 to 77%), and it decreases with age (in old people the percentage varies from 45% to 55%) and with the increase of fat deposits.
Obese people have a lower body water percentage than lean people.
Refer to this data to compare the obtained percentage.
Water accomplishes many biological functions:

• it promotes the digestive processes;
• it is a thinner for substances that are important for the organism;
• it removes metabolic wastes;
• it carries oxygen, nutrients, enzymes, hormones and glucose to the cells; - it is a source of mineral salts;
• it regulates the body temperature.

The human organism excretes every day a given quantity of water, which must be regularly replaced; a water loss of approximately 10% of the body weight, may put at risk the health condition.
Body weight variations, may occur throughout short (hours), medium (days) or long (weeks) periods.
Small weight variations that take place in a few hours, are completely normal and are due to water retention, since the extra-cellular water (which includes interstitial fluid, plasma, lymph and transcellular fluid) is the only compartment subject to such rapid variations.
When a weight reduction occurs in a few days, it is very likely that it affected the total water amount (distributed by approximately 60% inside the cells - intracellular water - and by approximately 40% outside the cells - extracellular water-) and therefore, it also affected the lean body mass.
To conclude, the fat body mass is subject to variations which can be recorded in weeks.

Therefore, in order to evaluate the progression of one's body composition it is necessary to keep in mind that:

• a weight reduction by itself, accompanied by an unchanged or even increased body fat percentage, shows that the body has simply lost water (for instance after a training session, a sauna or a diet that is limited to rapid weight loss).
• a weight increase accompanied by a decreasing or unchanged body fat percentage, shows the development of precious muscular mass.
• when weight and body fat decrease at the same time, it means that the diet is effective and that we are also losing volume.
• when there is a high percentage of fat or a reduced muscular mass, the body water percentage is always too low.

When following a diet, it is necessary to expect a reduction in the fat body mass and not in the muscular mass.

Basal metabolic rate
The basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the minimum quantity of calories necessary for the human body to survive, i.e. to carry out basic processes such as the circulation, respiration, digestion, preservation of body temperature. The basal metabolic rate is calculated on a person mentally and physically resting in supine position, not eating for 12 hours, after at least 8 hours of sleep and at a constant room temperature of about 20°C.

The basal metabolic rate for the adults ranges between 1200 and 1800 kcal.
The BMR is influenced by various factors:

• age: it is higher when one is young; with the increase of age, the muscular mass decreases and consequently the BMR, too.
• gender: the BMR is greater in men due to the testosterone and of the greater muscular mass.
• height: the BMR is greater in tall and slim people.
• body composition: the increase of the muscular mass involves an increase of the BMR; the increase of the fat mass involves a decrease of the BMR.
• fever/stress: the BMR increases in case of stress or of fever.
• nutrition state: the fasting, poor nutrition or malnutrition decrease the BMR; while high protein diets increase the BMR.
• climate: with very high or very low environment temperatures, the BMR increases.
• thyroxin: thyroxin is a hormone produced by the thyroid; this hormone has among its functions that of adjusting the metabolism intensity. More thyroxin is produced and greater is the BMR.

Considering this information, the basal metabolic rate allows monitoring the number of calories required by the body according to the physical state and to the life-style.

The greater is the muscular mass or the greater is the physical activity, more are the required calories: it is essential to know such information to optimize a diet or physical activity.

Example of body composition

Person 1
Input Data: female, 168 cm tall, 41 years old,
Data calculated by the scale: Weight 61.1 kilos, Bodyfat 23.8%, Bodywater 55.5%, Basal metabolic rate 1232 kcal, muscles 33,4%
Analysis of body composition: According to the table the body composition is normal. Let's analyze it in details. The percentage of lean body mass is 76.2% (100% - 23.8) The water percentage is 55.5% (76.2% x 73%).

The body fat is made up as follows:

• essential fat => 61.7 kilos x 12% = 7.33 kilos
• spare fat => 61.1 kilos x 15% = 9.16 kilos

The total body fat (essential fat + spare fat) is made up of 7.33 + 9.16 kilos = 16.49 kilos that over the total of body weight (61.1 kilos) is equivalent to 27% (ideal percentage of fat mass for person 1). The difference between 23.8% (fat body mass actual percentage) and 27% (fat body mass ideal percentage) is -3.2%, which applied to the total weight of 61.1 kilos is equivalent to 1.95 kilos.
1.95 kg represents the kilograms that person 1 may add to reach the ideal value of fat mass.
Water percentage equal to 55.5% is within the standard values for women.
The percentage of skeletal muscles (33.4%) is lower than the average due to a reduced physical activity The basal metabolic rate is 1232 kcal and it is affected by the gender, weight and height (woman, normal body composition; therefore, BMR around 1200 kcal).

TIPS FOR USE

• Place the scale on a flat, hard surface. Soft, uneven flooring (e.g. rugs, carpets, linoleum) can cause the scale to give an uneven reading of your weight.

• Step onto the scale with your feet parallel and weight equally distributed (see illustrations). Stand still while the scale measures your weight.
• It is important to weigh yourself with dry, bare feet, correctly positioned on the electrodes (see illustrations). Moreover, for the scale to work properly, avoid your legs touching.
• The scale does not involve any hazard since it works using replaceable 1x3V lithium battery. However, the following people should avoid using it:

• those fitted with a pace-maker or other forms of electronic, medical equipment
• those with a temperature
• children under the age of 10
• pregnant woman
• those in dialysis, with edemas on their legs, people with dimorphism or suffering from osteoporosis.
• people on cardiovascular medication.

• Always weigh yourself on the same scale each day at the same time, preferably undressed and before breakfast. To get the best results from your scale, weigh yourself twice, and if the two weights are different from each other, your weight is between the two readings. Wait for about 15 minutes after getting up, so that the water can distribute itself around your body.
• The surface of the scale can be slippery, if wet.
• Should an error occur during the analysis of your basal metabolic rate, of your percentage of fat, water and skeletal musculature, the scale switches off automatically.
  
  The function of measurement of the percentage of body fat, water and skeletal musculature, as well as of the basal metabolic rate can be used only by people with an age ranging from 10 to 80 years and with a height ranging from 100 to 220 cm.
• The precision of the data detected by the scale can be altered in the following cases:

1. a high alcohol level
2. a high level of caffeine or drugs
3. after an intense sports activity
4. during an illness
5. during pregnancy
6. after heavy meals
7. in presence of dehydration problems
8. your personal data (height, age, sex) have not been input correctly
9. if you have wet or dirty feet
10. persons with swollen legs

The percentage of body fat and water, as well as of skeletal musculature and the value of the basal metabolic rate are to be considered merely indicative. For any further information, refer to a doctor or dietician.

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

1. Inserting the battery
   This scale works with one 3V replaceable lithium battery.
   When battery is flat, the display shows "Lo" or the symbol of the battery.
   Remove the battery, if the scale is not going to be used for long time. Remove the flat battery sliding the cover of the battery compartment in the arrow direction.
   Extract the batteries and dispose them as special waste at the collection point indicated for recycling. For further information concerning the disposal of used batteries, refer to the store where the device containing the batteries was purchased, the Municipality or the local waste disposal service.

   
   For safety reasons, it is recommended never to allow children younger than 12 years to remove the batteries.

2. Measurement unit key
   Off scale, select the measurement unit to perform the weighing (kg, lb, or st) using the key positioned on the bottom of the scale.

3. Simple scale function

• With switched off scale, get on the same keeping your feet parallel and your weight homogeneously distributed (see drawings).
  
  It switches on, only after you have got on it. Wait without moving until the scale measures your weight.
  Do not lean on anything during the measurement to avoid modifying the detected values.

• Get off the scale. The display keeps showing the weight for some seconds and then the scale switches off automatically.

4. Entering personal data
   This scale can store the data of 10 different people.
   1. With off scale, press the "SET" key (positioned under the glass platform next to the text "SET").
   2. On the display, the message "P-01" blinks, indicating the person "01": If you wish to change memory area (memories from 01 to 10), press the keys "▲"or "▼" (positioned under the glass platform next to the symbols "▲"or "▼"). Once the memory area has been selected, confirm by pressing "SET".
   3. Now the display shows the shape of a man or woman. Use the keys "▲" and "▼" to select and confirm by pressing "SET".
   4. Then, enter your height (from 100 cm to 220 cm) using the keys "▲" or "▼" to increase or decrease the value. The display shows the value in cm. Press "SET" to confirm.
   5. Use the symbols "▲" or "▼" once again to enter the "Age" (from 10 to 80) and confirm by pressing "SET".
   6. Now, the scale has stored all your data; the display shows "0.0".
      Get on the scale paying attention to position the naked feet correctly on the two electrodes. The display shows the following data two times sequentially:
   • your weight
   • the percentage of fat present in the body (FAT)
   • the percentage of water present in the body (BW)
   • the percentage of skeletal musculature (MUS)
   • the basal metabolic rate (KCAL)
     Compare the obtained fat percentage (FAT) with the parameters given in the "Bodyfat table": If the values are not included in the normal range, refer to your doctor. Moreover, evaluate the water percentage (BW) according to paragraph "% of water", the percentage of musculature (MUS) according to paragraph "% of skeletal musculature" and the basal metabolic (KCAL) rate according to paragraph "basal metabolic rate". Should the data not be included in the standard range, refer to your doctor.
   7. The scale switches off automatically after having displayed all data for the second time.
      To modify the entered data, call up the involved memory area and repeat the entire proceeding. To enter the data of another person, select a free memory area and repeat the entire proceeding described above.
      
      While performing the "Enter your personal data" procedure, the scale switches off automatically if not any key is pressed within 15 seconds.

5. Calculation of weight, % of body fat, % of body water, % of skeletal musculature, and basal metabolic rate value

• With off scale, press the key "SET"; then, press the key "▲" or "▼" to select the desired memory area. Previously entered data will be displayed by the display, followed by "0.0kg".
• Get on the scale and wait for the display of your data (see item 6 of the paragraph "Entering personal data").
  
  If the display does not show "0.0" it will not be possible to read the weight and calculate body composition. If the display shows "Err2", it means that an error occurred during the measurement. Repeat the entire procedure again. In case of overweight, the display shows "Err". In this case, remove immediately the weight from the balance in order not to damage its mechanism.

TECHNICAL FEATURES

Capacity: 150 kg / 330 lb / 24 st
Division: 100 g / 0.2 / 1 lb
10-persons memory.
One 3V lithium battery CR2032
LCD display
Accuracy within: +/- 1% + 1 division
Operating environmental requirements: +10°C +40°C; RH 85% Storage environmental requirements: +10°C +50°C; RH 85%

MAINTENANCE

• Handle your scale with care as it is a precision instrument. Therefore, avoid to expose it to extreme temperatures, damp, knocks, dust and direct sunlight.
  Do not drop the scale or knock on it.
• Keep the scale away from sources of heat.
• Do not jump on the scale.
• Clean the scale with just a soft dry cloth.
• To clean the scale never use chemical or abrasive products.
• Take care that no liquids penetrate into the scale, as it is not waterproof.
  Do not leave or use the scale in very damp surroundings, humidity above 85% or contact with water and other liquid parts could cause corrosion and jeopardize the precision of the scale.

Read the instructions carefully

This product is meant for domestic use.
The conformity, certified by the CE-marking on the device, refers to the EEC Directive 2004/108 on electromagnetic compatibility.
This product is an electronic device that was tested to assure, according to the current technical knowledge, that it does not interfere with other nearby located equipment (electromagnetic compatibility) and that it is safe if used according to the advices given in the instructions for use.
In case of operation anomalies, do not keep using the device and, if necessary, refer to the manufacturer directly.

DISPOSAL PROCEDURE (DIR. 2002/96/EC - WEEE)

The symbol on the bottom of the device indicates the separated collection of electric and electronic equipment. At the end of life of the device, do not dispose it as mixed solid municipal waste, but dispose it referring to a specific collection centre located in your area or returning it to the distributor, when buying a new device of the same type to be used with the same functions.

This procedure of separated collection of electric and electronic devices is carried out forecasting a European environmental policy aiming at safeguarding, protecting and improving environment quality, as well as avoiding potential effects on human health due to the presence of hazardous substances in such equipment or to an improper use of the same or of parts of the same.

The wrong disposal of electric and electronic equipment may involve sanctions.

WARRANTY

This equipment is covered by a 2-year warranty elapsing from the purchase date, which has to be proven by means of the stamp or signature of the dealer and by the fiscal payment receipt that shall be kept enclosed to this document. This warranty period complies with the laws in force (Italian legislative decree No. 24 dated Feb. 02, 2002 and following "Consumers' Act" Italian legislative decree No. 206 dated Sep. 03, 2005) and applies only in case the consumer is a private entity. Laica products are designed for domestic use; therefore, their use in public businesses is forbidden. The warranty covers only production defects and is void, if the damage is caused by accidental events, wrong use, negligence or improper use of the product. Use the supplied accessories only; the use of other accessories may lead to warranty voidness. Do not open the equipment for any reason whatsoever; in case of opening or tampering of the equipment, warranty decays definitively.

Warranty does not apply to parts subject to tear and wear along the use, as well as to batteries, when they are standard supplied. Warranty decays after 2 years from the purchase date. In this case, technical service interventions will be carried out against payment. Information on technical service interventions, under warranty terms or against payment, may be requested by writing at info@laica.com. Nothing shall be owed for the repairing or replacement of products covered by the warranty terms. In case of faults, refer to a dealer; DO NOT send anything directly to LAICA. All interventions covered by warranty (including product replacement or the replacement of any of its parts) shall not be meant to extend the duration of the original warranty period of the replaced product.

The manufacturer cannot be made liable for any damages that may be caused, directly or indirectly, to people, things and pets resulting from the inobservance of the provisions contained in the suitable user manual, especially with reference to the warnings related to installation, use and maintenance of the equipment.

Being constantly involved in improving its own products, Laica reserves the right to modify its product, totally or partially, with reference to any production need, without that this involves any responsibility whatsoever by Laica or its dealers.

LAICA S.p. A.
Viale del Lavoro, 10 - Fraz. Ponte
36021 Barbarano Vicentino (VI) - ITALY
Fax: +39-0444-795324
Made in China
www.laica.it

Documents / Resources

References

• Gamma prodotti LAICA per la filtrazione e benessere

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