Can I trust the body-fat percentage on my home scale?

Treat it as an estimate, not an exact measurement. A scale can measure your weight reasonably well while being much less accurate about how much of that weight is fat or muscle. Research comparing smart scales with a clinical reference method found important differences in their body-composition estimates. Published study.

The best use is comparison and the trend over time, using the same device under similar conditions. The trend is still an estimate, not proof of an exact amount of fat or muscle change. A sudden change in the displayed number does not automatically mean you gained fat or lost muscle.

At MedFIT, those readings can be discussed alongside your weight trend, strength and other observations.

Next: Bring the trend and the device name rather than reacting to one reading.