how to measure how much fat I have

sarcastje

where can I get checked how much body fat percentage is? How much does it cost and can I do it at home? If i can do it at home, how do i do it?

juliapurpletoes

I know where I live our hospitals have these health fairs and I could get it done there, usually for cheap. Call around and see what you can find.

JanerZzz

i get it measured at the gym, they have a sensor machine thingy. I know there is a pinch test (not sure how that works, there is a special forcep type of thing that you use to pinch yourself)...may be your physician can do it...or look into special scales that also measure your body fat (they may run you about 50-60 bucks)

new_me_9_67

the most accurate way by far is to use a bod pod:

http://www.bodpod.com/

If you don't have a location near you then body fat calipers are the next best thing.
check online as prices vary and they all come with instructions. scales that measure body fat are not accurate at all.

Hope this helps

pyro13g

Fat Calipers. Most accurate at home way to do it. Here is a how to: http://www.linear-software.com/online.html

JDMPWR

^^^If by bodpod you mean hydrostatic testing then yes. If not then no.

Hydrostatic testing is the 100% most correct body fat analysis out there. Pro athletes use it on a daily basis. It's a test of body fat in water. They can give you fat%, hydration%, and mass%.

If you have a good university near you with a decent physical research department then you should be able to get the test done.

First time I had it done it was not at a college and it cost me like 300 bucks, last test I had done was at UIC and it cost me 45 bucks.

Calipers have huge variances dependent on how you pinch, do you have loose skin in that area, how much water retention you have at the moment, etc.

Laurieannfanelli

I bought a scale that measures your weight, body fat %, water weght and bone density. Got it at Acedamy for 89.99. I had every thing measured at the gym by a trainer with the calibers and was just about the same. :bigsmile:

OliveLucas

If you don't have a body fat tester or a scale that can measure your body fat at home, here is formular to help you calculate your body fat:

weight (pounds) x 1.082 = nude factor

nude factor + 94.42 = weight factor

waist measurement (inches) x 4.150 = waist factor

weight factor - waist factor = lean body mass

weight - lean body mass = body fat

body fat / weight x 100 = body fat %

Mads1997

I had a bio-impedance test done at the dieticians. sends a small electric current through your body and measures all below. All it cost was the visit fee.

fat % and fat weight
Lean % and lean weight
water % and water weight
total body weight
Metabolic rate
Est Average energy required

olyrose

I got a scale that was supposed to measure, but somehow, my body fat percentage seems to rise as I lose weight and workout. I'm assuming that can't be right...

If you do get a scale, I would invest in one that is recommended to be accurate

krissy_pooo

If you don't have a body fat tester or a scale that can measure your body fat at home, here is formular to help you calculate your body fat:

weight (pounds) x 1.082 = nude factor

nude factor + 94.42 = weight factor

waist measurement (inches) x 4.150 = waist factor

weight factor - waist factor = lean body mass

weight - lean body mass = body fat

body fat / weight x 100 = body fat %

I would LOVE to think this is accurate for me, but 5 weeks ago my body fat % was 33.5, and according to this it's 19% now!

dragonflydi

I got a scale that was supposed to measure, but somehow, my body fat percentage seems to rise as I lose weight and workout. I'm assuming that can't be right...

If you do get a scale, I would invest in one that is recommended to be accurate

Depending on the type of working out you are doing, you could be losing muscle rather than fat, which would make your scale accurate. I learned this the hard way, as this is what I had been doing before a trainer at my gym and I were talking. He was training for a body building competition and we were discussing our food intake after we finished working out. I'd run 5.5 miles and he had walked 3 miles at a .10 incline. He burned more fat than I did ... Turns out I was not eating nearly enough calories for the type of workouts I was doing (running, high intensity elliptical, etc) ... as a result, I was burning muscle rather than fat so my BMI was way off. Something to consider??

JDMPWR

I got a scale that was supposed to measure, but somehow, my body fat percentage seems to rise as I lose weight and workout. I'm assuming that can't be right...

If you do get a scale, I would invest in one that is recommended to be accurate

Not true. Not if you dont take in enough protein then it is surely possible for this to happen.

pyro13g

Bioelectrical Impedance scales are not your friend.

OliveLucas

If you don't have a body fat tester or a scale that can measure your body fat at home, here is formular to help you calculate your body fat:

weight (pounds) x 1.082 = nude factor

nude factor + 94.42 = weight factor

waist measurement (inches) x 4.150 = waist factor

weight factor - waist factor = lean body mass

weight - lean body mass = body fat

body fat / weight x 100 = body fat %

I would LOVE to think this is accurate for me, but 5 weeks ago my body fat % was 33.5, and according to this it's 19% now!

I don't know how accurate it is, but it's pretty close to the number on the scale I have at home.

mcanavan05

My tanita scale shows me at 33-34%.. this calculation has me at 26%

Current weight 211.5 waist 40.5in

Gee45

Online calculations has me at about 26% fat. I"m 5'4 and 148 lbs. My scale has me at 35%. I would hope that my scale is wrong.

mcanavan05

I tihnk the scale could be impacted by battery life/power as well as current body make up..water weight, etc..