Body fat % calculation

kfitz10103

So where is the best place to calculate my body fat %? I want to use measurements and I don't have a machine that doe sthe skin fold measurement. I tried and I got so many different results. 25-39% from the same website? WTH? I just want to know where I am so I can set a goal?
http://www.bmi-calculator.net/body-fat-calculator/
http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/body-fat-percentage-calculator
http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/diet.html
http://www.davedraper.com/bodyfat-calculation.html
http://www.fitwatch.com/qkcalc/body-fat-percentage-calculator.php

bluegirl10

I'd like to know too!

aippolito1

In person. If you belong to a gym, they should have a handheld body fat checker that they can use on you. It sends a pulse through your body to calculate it. From what I've heard, that's how some regular scales do it as well but the one at the gym is what I've used since I started working out.

xcbballuver

well maybe just pick one calculator and use it the entire time to see ur body loss in relativity..? the most accurate you need a skin fold caliper

OneBryteSmile

One of my MFP pals got it done at her local YMCA by a professional trainer for like $7 I think. You could also ask your doctor's office if they do it. I had mine done through my job's free health screening but they used the little handheld thing (forgot what it's called). It is not as accurate as say using calipers but it was better than nothing.

DancinSMartiPants

This is the one I use.

http://www.healthcentral.com/cholesterol/home-body-fat-test-2774-143.html

joejccva71

The bodyfat% calculator tool that alot of gyms have is a good start. It's roughly 92-93% accurate.

aj_rock

As a general rule, the more parameters you enter to calculate your BF%, the more accurate the result

So a website that asks height, genger, and waist circ won't be as accurate as one that asks for those + hips, wrists, neck, etc.

DizzieLittleLifter

The online calculators are wrong. I wouldn't even bother with using one to set/ reach a goal. You can pop in to a gym, go to a dr. or even buy one of the handheld impedance BF calculators for $25/ amazon (not very accurate, but will give you an idea if you are steadily going down). Some scales have a calculator built in, but again not very accurate.

Egger29

For the majority of people, a Bio-Electrical Impedence scale is sufficient for giving Body Fat results. these are available on scales or through hand-held devices.

They work by sending a miniscule current through a loop (Either hand to hand, or foot to foot) and measuring the time it takes for the circuit to complete). The current is miniscule so we're not talking electro shocks or anything here.

Lean mass (Muscle, Bone, etc) is Primarily water and thus very conductive. Fat mass on the other hand is like rubber (non-conductive) and thus impedes the flow of any type of electrical signal.

Most of these scales have an accuracy of +/- 3% so they work well as a guideline for measuring progress.

Factors that can throw off accuracy are : State of dress/undress, hydration, when you last ate, time of day etc. You want to minimize those factors by being constant to get accurate results.

Skin-fold measurements are MORE accurate however, for accuracy the measurements need to be done by someone experiened in using the calipers. (Self-measuring will not give accurate results).

By far the best method is Hydrostatic Weighing, but I don't think anyone here has a dunk tank at their disposal to measure water displacement when submerged.

Websites that try to guess your %age based on Height, Weight, BMI or circumference measurements will not be accurate in the least.

aj_rock

For the majority of people, a Bio-Electrical Impedence scale is sufficient for giving Body Fat results. these are available on scales or through hand-held devices.

They work by sending a miniscule current through a loop (Either hand to hand, or foot to foot) and measuring the time it takes for the circuit to complete). The current is miniscule so we're not talking electro shocks or anything here.

Lean mass (Muscle, Bone, etc) is Primarily water and thus very conductive. Fat mass on the other hand is like rubber (non-conductive) and thus impedes the flow of any type of electrical signal.

Most of these scales have an accuracy of +/- 3% so they work well as a guideline for measuring progress.

Factors that can throw off accuracy are : State of dress/undress, hydration, when you last ate, time of day etc. You want to minimize those factors by being constant to get accurate results.

Skin-fold measurements are MORE accurate however, for accuracy the measurements need to be done by someone experiened in using the calipers. (Self-measuring will not give accurate results).

By far the best method is Hydrostatic Weighing, but I don't think anyone here has a dunk tank at their disposal to measure water displacement when submerged.

Websites that try to guess your %age based on Height, Weight, BMI or circumference measurements will not be accurate in the least.

Not sure the average folks have the opportunity to get hydrostatic weighing or visit their doctors everytime they want a BF% check-up... online ones are good for tracking changes in BF%... They are also based on statistical averages so if you enter enough information they can be pretty accurate actually..

A hand-held unit can do a good job, but to get meaningful results (aka not garbage) you need to spend a pretty penny.

phinners

This is the one I use.

http://www.healthcentral.com/cholesterol/home-body-fat-test-2774-143.html

Thanks.

Though I didnt get the bit about measuring the bony bit of the wrist to the hand...

beernutz

You can do reasonably accurate skin fold readings yourself with inexpensive calipers. The Jackson/Pollock 3 point reading can be done by anybody with two arms. I've done it myself for years. I also have a Tanita bodyfat impedance scale but that thing has too much variance to be of use to me.

Here's a nice website to both calculate body fat percentage and show you where and how to take readings. http://www.linear-software.com/online.html

DancinSMartiPants

This is the one I use.

http://www.healthcentral.com/cholesterol/home-body-fat-test-2774-143.html

Thanks.

Though I didnt get the bit about measuring the bony bit of the wrist to the hand...

It's meant to establish your frame size.