Why would you want a WiFi scale?

The added cost of a WiFi scale often includes extra perks, such as apps for smartphones that help you track your data. This is the Withings iPhone interface.

Image courtesy of Withings

A barebones bathroom scale can be had for less than $20. If you want something fancier than a plain old analog scale -- like a digital scale with user recognition and the ability to gauge body fat -- you'll spend between $50 and $100. As of mid-2012, Withings' WiFi Body Scale costs $160. Fitbit's costs $130. Neither is outrageously expensive, but they still cost as much as two or three or four simpler scales.

While regular bathroom scales have been around for so long that there are hundreds to choose from, WiFi scales are a newer niche product. As of mid-2012, Withings and Fitbit are the only two big names on the market.

Despite the added expense of Internet connectivity, WiFi scales offer something other bathroom scales can't: ready access to contextualized information. Sometimes, our bathroom scales make us paranoid. We fear the number. But weight tracking through a WiFi scale lets us focus on progression, not just a flat weight. It's the perfect opportunity to take control.