An apparatus and method for obtaining information, such as heart rate or the presence of atrial fibrillation, from electrodes applied to the feet of a subject. A scale having electrodes may be used for this purpose. The signal obtained from the electrodes is digitized and filtered to obtain an electrocardiographic signal exhibiting periodic, sequential, discrete, magnitudinal variations associated with the heartbeats of the subject. The electrocardiographic signal is then analyzed to identify discrete magnitudinal variations useful for obtaining the desired information. In determining the heart rate of the subject, an interval between variations having a desired magnitudinal characteristic may be employed. The absence of such variations is indicative of atrial fibrillation.