1. Introduction
The TANITA RD-953 is an advanced Bluetooth-enabled body composition scale designed to provide comprehensive insights into your health and fitness. Utilizing dual-frequency, phase-sensitive Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) technology, typically found in professional medical devices, this scale offers highly accurate measurements of various body composition metrics. It allows up to four users to track their progress and transfer data seamlessly to a smartphone application for detailed analysis and goal setting.
This manual provides essential information for setting up, operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting your RD-953 scale to ensure optimal performance and accurate readings.
Image 1.1: The TANITA RD-953 scale with its accompanying smartphone application, showing the scale's display and the app's trend chart for body composition data.
2. Setup
2.1 Unpacking and Battery Installation
Carefully remove the scale from its packaging. The TANITA RD-953 requires 4 AA batteries, which are included. Locate the battery compartment on the underside of the scale. Open the cover, insert the batteries according to the polarity indicators (+/-), and close the cover securely.
2.2 Scale Placement
Place the scale on a hard, flat, and stable surface. Avoid placing it on carpets, rugs, or uneven flooring, as this can affect measurement accuracy. Ensure the scale is not exposed to direct sunlight or extreme temperature changes.
2.3 App Download and Bluetooth Pairing
To fully utilize the features of your RD-953 scale, download the official MyTanita app from your smartphone's app store (available for iOS and Android). Follow the in-app instructions to pair your scale via Bluetooth. This typically involves enabling Bluetooth on your device, opening the app, and stepping on the scale to initiate the connection. The app will guide you through creating user profiles for up to four individuals.
3. Operating Instructions
3.1 Taking a Measurement
- Ensure the scale is on a flat, hard surface.
- Step onto the scale barefoot. Ensure your feet are positioned correctly on the electrodes.
- Stand still and wait for the measurement to complete. The display will show your weight first, followed by other body composition readings.
- Your measurements will automatically transfer to the MyTanita app if your smartphone is within Bluetooth range and the app is open or running in the background.
3.2 Using the MyTanita App
The MyTanita app provides a detailed overview of your body composition data. You can view your measurements in tabular format or as graphical trends over time. The app allows you to set personal goals and track your progress visually. It also provides explanations for each measurement, helping you understand your body better.
Image 3.1: The MyTanita app interface showing a trend chart of weight measurements over time, demonstrating how users can view their results on a smartphone or tablet.
4. Understanding Your Measurements
The TANITA RD-953 provides 11 key body composition values. Understanding these metrics can help you monitor your health and fitness effectively.
Image 4.1: Visual representation of the 11 body composition values measured by the TANITA RD-953 scale.
4.1 Weight
Measured in 50-gram increments. While weight is a basic indicator, it's important to consider it in conjunction with other body composition metrics for a complete picture of health.
4.2 Body Fat Percentage
Measured in 0.1% increments. Body fat is essential for bodily functions, protecting organs, regulating temperature, and storing vitamins. However, excessive body fat can lead to health issues like cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Monitoring body fat percentage is often a more accurate indicator of health and fitness progress than weight alone, especially during diet or exercise programs.
4.3 Visceral Fat
Visceral fat is the fat stored around your internal organs in the abdominal cavity. High levels of visceral fat are considered a significant health risk, particularly for cardiovascular diseases (like heart attacks and strokes) and Type II diabetes. This measurement helps assess internal health risks beyond subcutaneous fat (fat under the skin).
4.4 Total Body Water Percentage
Measured in 100-gram increments. Water is vital for overall health and anti-aging processes. Adequate hydration supports cell regeneration, keeps blood fluid, and benefits all organs. The scale helps monitor your body's hydration level, which is crucial for maintaining health and youthful appearance.
4.5 Muscle Mass
Measured in 100-gram increments. This value indicates the total amount of muscle in your body in kilograms. Muscle mass is a critical indicator for metabolic activity, cardiovascular endurance, immunity, and joint protection. Tracking changes in muscle mass helps assess the effectiveness of your fitness regimen.
4.6 Bone Mineral Mass
Measured in 100-gram increments. This indicates the weight of your bones in kilograms. Maintaining strong bones through regular strength training (preferably outdoors for UV light exposure) and a calcium-rich diet is crucial. In adults, physical activity, especially strength training, helps maintain bone density and slows down age-related bone degradation (osteoporosis).
4.7 Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
This is the number of calories your body consumes per day at physical rest. It is calculated based on your lean body mass (weight minus fat mass), which is a more accurate method than calculations based on total body weight. Since muscle is the most metabolically active organ, increasing muscle mass can boost your BMR. When on a fat-loss diet, it's important not to go below your BMR, as this could indicate undesirable protein and muscle loss.
4.8 Body Value (Body Composition Score)
This score evaluates your weight and fat percentage relative to your height, gender, age, and average values. It is displayed as a dimensionless number (from 1 to 9). An optimal score indicates a high muscle mass and low body fat percentage.
4.9 Body Mass Index (BMI)
BMI is a measure that uses your height and weight to work out if your weight is healthy. While useful, it does not differentiate between fat and muscle mass, making other body composition metrics more informative for fitness tracking.
4.10 Muscle Quality
This innovative measurement assesses the quality of your muscles, not just the quantity. It provides a direct evaluation of personal muscle quality, which is a better indicator for tracking training success, especially in endurance sports, as muscle mass itself may not change significantly. The scale provides a score from -4 to +4.
Image 4.2: Explanation of muscle quality, differentiating between high and low quality muscle based on fiber, fat, and water content.
4.11 Metabolic Age
This value compares your basal metabolic rate to the average BMR for your age group. If your metabolic age is higher than your actual age, it may indicate excessive muscle loss. Increasing muscle strength can improve your basal metabolism. A metabolic age lower than your actual age suggests good physical condition and a healthy metabolism.
5. Maintenance
5.1 Cleaning the Scale
To clean the scale, wipe it with a soft, damp cloth. Do not use abrasive cleaners, chemical solvents, or immerse the scale in water. Ensure the surface is dry before storage or next use.
5.2 Storage
Store the scale in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures. Avoid placing heavy objects on the scale when not in use.
6. Troubleshooting
6.1 Pairing Issues
- Ensure Bluetooth is enabled: Check your smartphone's Bluetooth settings.
- Restart app and scale: Close and reopen the MyTanita app. Remove and reinsert the batteries in the scale.
- Forget device: In your phone's Bluetooth settings, 'forget' or 'unpair' the scale, then try pairing again through the MyTanita app.
- Proximity: Ensure your smartphone is close to the scale during pairing.
6.2 Inaccurate Readings
- Surface: Ensure the scale is on a hard, flat, and stable surface. Carpets or uneven floors can cause inaccuracies.
- Barefoot: Always step on the scale barefoot with clean, dry feet for accurate body composition measurements.
- Consistency: Take measurements at the same time of day, ideally in the morning before eating or exercising, for consistent tracking.
- User Profile: Ensure you have selected the correct user profile in the app, or that the scale recognizes you correctly if multiple users are registered.
- Electrode Contact: Ensure your feet make full contact with the metal electrodes on the scale.
6.3 Display Not Working
- Batteries: Check if the batteries are correctly inserted and have sufficient charge. Replace them if necessary.
- Reset: Remove batteries for a few minutes, then reinsert them to perform a soft reset.
7. Specifications
Image 7.1: Dimensions of the TANITA RD-953 Body Composition Scale.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Model Number | RD953BK36 |
| Color | Black |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 29.8 x 32.8 x 3.2 cm |
| Item Weight | 2.1 Kilograms |
| Weight Limit | 200 Kilograms |
| Reading Precision | 50 Grams |
| Power Source | 4 AA Batteries (included) |
| Display Type | Digital |
| Special Features | Body Fat, Muscle Mass, Muscle Quality, Bluetooth Connectivity |
| Recommended Uses | Health Monitoring, Fitness Tracking, Weight Management |
| Material | Plastic |
8. Warranty and Support
TANITA is a Japanese family business committed to helping people adopt healthier lifestyles. All TANITA scales are produced in their own factories under strict quality criteria. For specific warranty information, technical support, or service inquiries, please refer to the warranty card included with your product or contact TANITA customer support directly through their official website or your retailer.
