Ladies... Body Fat Calculator?

ekaustin7

Wondering if you've calculated your body fat percentage and what you used to do it? I bought a tape measure and did 3 body fat percentage calculations yesterday with all different methods. Each one I used gave drastically different answers, so I'm wondering which one(s) gives the most accurate estimate of body fat percentage. Thanks!

Gagaluvr

I was going to post this same question! I'm curious to know too!!

ekaustin7

Anyone...??

cindybpitts

I havent been on MFP but a couple of months but I see alot of people posting Scooby`s calculator. It seems to be very popular so Im thinking it is more accurate. Google Scooby`s Calculator. Worth a try.

JenMc14

I had a caliper test put my at 13.7% when I was at my lowest weight, but she didn't use any stomach measurements, so I didn't (and still don't) buy it. My scale, which I know is terribly inacurate, puts me around 27% (10 pounds heavier than when I got calipered at 13.7). Online calculators give me about that, it's been awhile since I've done one. This is a decent pictoral guide to sort of estimate your own: http://www.builtlean.com/2012/09/24/body-fat-percentage-men-women/. Here's another one: http://www.leighpeele.com/body-fat-pictures-and-percentages I really want to have a Bod Pod test done, and plan to when I get these holiday 10 pounds back off!

Mokey41

I went for a dunk test and found that the online calculators were off by quite a bit from the results I got.

omma_to_3

I had a Bod Pod test done last summer. It came back at 39.2%. The online calculators ranged from 27% (just one) to 44% (the majority were around 44%).

maricash

I've done various online calculators. I think the most accurate one was the military calculator at fat2fit radio: http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/mbf/ Just make sure you measure your waist in the correct place. For the military one it's a few inches above your naval.

You can also try a few different online calculators and then compare the results you get to the pictures here:

http://www.builtlean.com/2012/09/24/body-fat-percentage-men-women/

That's how I decided that the fat2fit military calculator worked the best -- the number it gives me matches the picture that I most resemble.

If you are looking to see changes in body fat over time, you can just keep using the same calculator each time. You should see a change as your body changes even if the absolute number you get isn't correct. If you really want to know your exact bf% you'll need to use a more sophisticated (and likely much more expensive) method in order to get it.

pineygirl

I've gotten 23.8% and 24.3% from 2 different online calculators using tape measure measurments and 24.0% using calipers.

According to pictures I've seen (from builtlean.com) I look like I'm betweent the 20-22% and the 25% picture.

My scale says I'm about 34.0-35.7%.

I'm estimating my actual bodyfat at around 28-30%. I think I just look and measure like I have less body fat then I actually do.

imfocused40

I just bought these 2 items last week and got them this weekend they seem to be pretty spot on.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FYZMYK/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008CENXCS/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

TlOwens1123

I've done various online calculators. I think the most accurate one was the military calculator at fat2fit radio: http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/mbf/ Just make sure you measure your waist in the correct place. For the military one it's a few inches above your naval.

You can also try a few different online calculators and then compare the results you get to the pictures here:

http://www.builtlean.com/2012/09/24/body-fat-percentage-men-women/

That's how I decided that the fat2fit military calculator worked the best -- the number it gives me matches the picture that I most resemble.

If you are looking to see changes in body fat over time, you can just keep using the same calculator each time. You should see a change as your body changes even if the absolute number you get isn't correct. If you really want to know your exact bf% you'll need to use a more sophisticated (and likely much more expensive) method in order to get it.

^^^I agree with the above statement. It seemed to be the most accurate for me as well.^^^

ekaustin7

I've done various online calculators. I think the most accurate one was the military calculator at fat2fit radio: http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/mbf/ Just make sure you measure your waist in the correct place. For the military one it's a few inches above your naval.

You can also try a few different online calculators and then compare the results you get to the pictures here:

http://www.builtlean.com/2012/09/24/body-fat-percentage-men-women/

That's how I decided that the fat2fit military calculator worked the best -- the number it gives me matches the picture that I most resemble.

If you are looking to see changes in body fat over time, you can just keep using the same calculator each time. You should see a change as your body changes even if the absolute number you get isn't correct. If you really want to know your exact bf% you'll need to use a more sophisticated (and likely much more expensive) method in order to get it.

^^^I agree with the above statement. It seemed to be the most accurate for me as well.^^^

Sounds good! I'll try it! Thanks for the help everyone!

zlauerMom

I just did the Fat2fit one and it gave me a measure one percentage point less than what my home scale averages at. It is certainly in the range I get with the scale depending on how dehydrated I am.