The measurement of body mass (‘weight’), usually with a mechanical or electronic weighing scale.
Often used as a physical health indicator.
It can change due to:
- temporary fluctuations throughout the day, especially because the amount of body water varies (drinking, hydration level, urination, or exertion effects)
- weight gain or weight loss
To mitigate fluctuations, it is advised to keep the same weigh-in conditions (with the same equipment), for instance in the morning upon waking:
- fasting
- no dehydration
- after urination and defecation
- before exertion
It should be noted that there can also be temporary fluctuations over several days, e.g. water retention as a premenstrual syndrome.
Therefore, another (complementary) way to mitigate fluctuations is to use a 7-day or even a 15-day moving average.
Synonyms:
body weight