Have you weighed yourself lately? Today? Yesterday, or last week? How many times have you stood on the scale waiting for it to deliver great news, only to be disappointed? Do you ever wonder what your scale really offers? 

The scale offers a number that "relates" to your weight. Even more, it gives you the chance to become overly obsessed with your wieght changes, or lack there of. In a Global Weight Survey of 9000 respondents by Synovate, a market research arm of Aegis Group plc., there were some interesting findings about weighing in.

Global Weight Survey

Participation during the study was based on multiple cultures from "13 countries on five continents - United Kingdom, France, Czech Republic, Romania, United States, Canada, Brazil, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia."

It was found that 15% of French, and 12% of Americans weigh themselves every day, while a half of Americans and French step on the scale weekly. Meanwhile, 37% of Singaporeans never use the scale. 

Attitudes on weighing in are inheritently different depending on the culture, but the survey showed that the scale affects people in many different ways. What about you? How do you feel about your scale? 

What does your scale represent? 

Meriam Webster  has two meanings for scale. The second is "an instrument or machine for weighing," but the results of the Global Weight Loss study says it is more than that. In some cases, it is a way of life, or a mental and emotional obsession. Although a scale is a tool for your weight change, it is still just a scale. What do I mean by that?

A scale is:

• an inanimate object made of plastic, metal, glass, gears, wires and bolts.
  
• has no feelings, and has no idea how hard you work to lose weight. 
  
• offers obscure answers because an unlevel floor can create an inaccurate number. 
  
• has no idea if your constipated, or bloated from your menstrual cycle. 
  
• has the ability to crush your feelings without saying a word.
  
• offers a number that does not know the difference between bone, muscle and fat.
  
• doesn't realize that your pants fit better even though the numbers are the same.

Don't let the scale demoralize you

Although there is nothing wrong with weighing in, never let the scale demoralize you. Regardless of your weight or size, there is no person or object that should have the power to make you feel bad about yourself. If you prefer to weigh yourself regularly find the balance that won't push you over the edge.