What's the most accurate and convenient way to measure your body fat?

darreneatschicken

What's the most accurate and convenient way to measure your body fat?

I bought one of those skinfold calipers and they are very unreliable: the result varies depending on which part of the skinfold I measure.

threewins

Most accurate? One of those scanning machines probably.

Most convenient? One of those "this is what a man/woman looks like at x body percentage fat" charts probably.

springlering62

Dexa scans are supposedly the most accurate. Groupon often has deals available on them when they make the rounds at local health clubs.

I was horrified (and motivated) when I did my Dexa because I thought I was lookin’ FINE, until the scan showed I was still a comparative lard *kitten*. I plan to get another one when all this virus stuff blows over. It just for my own gratification. No other reason than digital confirmation I done did good.

I don’t think the calipers or the charts would be very effective if you’ve lost a substantial amount of weight. I’ve been pretty damn lucky with excess skin, and am appreciative my body has been good to me after years of abuse, but my belly folds have belly folds, which have belly folds.....that would surely throw off any visual or caliper chart. If I “pinch an inch” I can tug it out five or six!

To paraphrase some of the lovely ladies here, I may be in size four jeans these days, but if I do a nude plank, my excess skin just about reaches the ground. In several places.

*sigh*

mom23mangos

threewins wrote: »

Most accurate? One of those scanning machines probably.

Most convenient? One of those "this is what a man/woman looks like at x body percentage fat" charts probably.

I agree with this. Unfortunately many of those pictures only show the upper body. So it may be a little off for people with uneven fat distribution. It’s helpful to visually estimate upper separate from lower and then average.

Lena_Loves_Herself2020

Try using measuring tape