Withings Announces New 'Body Cardio' Scale Able to Assess Cardiac Health

Withings today announced the launch of its latest connected health product, debuting the Body Cardio, a scale that incorporates Pulse Wave Velocity measurements to give users an overview of their cardiac health.

According to Withings, the Body Cardio represents the first consumer scale that uses Pulse Wave Velocity, a measurement of the velocity at which a person's arterial pulse propagates through the body. It can detect arterial stiffness caused by problems like high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and has a strong correlation with stroke, heart attack, and other cardiac events.

PWV analyses are traditionally conducted in clinical environments and generally reserved for those diagnosed with high blood pressure or other chronic diseases. For the first time, Body Cardio brings this capability to the home scale, computing PWV based on the user's age and time it takes for blood to flow from the aorta in the heart to the vessels in the feet.

Body Cardio, along with its app, Health Mate, provides the user with the evolution of its PWV (m/s) over time and with an indication of whether their PWV is normal, optimal or at risk.

Design wise, the Body Cardio is slim and sleek, measuring in at 0.7 inches with a flat aluminum base for stability and heat-tempered glass for durability. Available in black or white, the Body Cardio is accurate on any surface, from wood floors to carpet. A built-in rechargeable battery is able to last up to a year between charges.

In addition to providing details on cardiac health, the Withings Body Cardio also measures weight and gives users information on body mass index, body composition, and standing heart rate. Body composition measurements, done through biometrical impedance, are also a new addition to the Body Cardio. Past Withings scales, such as the Smart Body Analyzer, offered fewer features.

The Body Cardio, like all of Withings' health related devices, connects to the company's Health Mate app to deliver information like weight trends over time for long-term health-related tracking.

The Body Cardio is available starting today from the Withings website and from Apple retail stores for $179.95. Later in the summer, the Body Cardio will also be available from additional retail partners.

Withings is also releasing an updated "Body" scale, able to measure weight and body composition. Body sells for $129.95 and is available from a variety of retailers.