<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000883327 <NAME> HEALTH O METER PRODUCTS, INC <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-29-1996 <PERIOD-START> OCT-02-1995 <PERIOD-END> SEP-29-1996 <CASH> 736 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 60,552 <ALLOWANCES> 2,592 <INVENTORY> 43,626 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 109,007 <PP&E> 41,250 <DEPRECIATION> 22,728 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 273,490 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 48,393 <BONDS> 170,531 <COMMON> 91 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 48,916 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 273,490 <SALES> 282,977 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 282,977 <CGS> 192,706 <TOTAL-COSTS> 256,341 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 923,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 19,134 <INCOME-PRETAX> 7,859 <INCOME-TAX> 4,900 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,959 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,959 <EPS-PRIMARY> .33 <EPS-DILUTED> .33