Tanita, a manufacturer of several sophisticated “scales,” has a model called “the BC-1000 Body Composition Monitor” (costs $359) that measures weight, percent of body fat, and hydration levels, while also calculating muscle mass, physique rating, daily calorie intake, metabolic age rating, bone mass and visceral fat. The platform has no visible display; data simply goes wirelessly from the scale to a fitness watch, or a personal computer where it is stored in “Healthy Edge Software” that’s compatible with Microsoft’s Health Vault.  While this is aimed at performance athletes, it easily could be adapted for distance monitoring of, say, nutritional adherence among elders, especially those discharged from hospitals. MORE