Measuring weight using beam balance scale EHES Training Material

Exclusion criteria Weight is not measured if participant is immobile or in a wheelchair has severe difficulties standing steady is heavier than the upper limit of the scale refuses

Equipment Beam balance scale Calibration weights Carpenter’s level

Clothing during weight measurement Ask the participant to undress to his/her underwear If the participant refuses or feels uncomfortable to undress, ask him/her to take off shoes, heavy garments such as jacket, pullover, belts, heavy jewellery, and to empty pockets

Posture Ask the participant to stand still in the centre of the platform arms hanging loosely at sides weight distributed evenly on both feet

Weight measurement Move the weights until the beam balances properly

Recording Record weight to the resolution of the scale Record extra clothing, if more than underwear If the participant is pregnant, ask and record pregnancy weeks and the weight before pregnancy separately from the measured weight If weight is not measured, record the reason Record the number of the measurement device used

Acknowledgements Slides Johanna Mäki-Opas, Hanna Tolonen, Päivikki Koponen Photographs Hanna Tolonen Measurement demonstration Liisa Saarikoski, Katri Kilpeläinen, Ulla Leskinen, Shadia Rask, Ari Haukijärvi