how do you calculate your % of body fat

mumtoonegirl

I looked online and found one that allowed me to put measurements in, but it had nothing about my height which I found strange. Yes a certain LBS for a 5'1" is very different than the same LBS for someone who is 5'11".

I entered the info and I was in 'normal' range but barely. Which was surprising to me since I am getting much more fit and smaller. I know I have some tightening to do but I don't know what I would look like if I was the measurements it would have to be to be on the lower end of normal.

I was sitting at 24.1% by the way as a reference. That seemed high but I am not sure.

FP4HSharon

The only truly accurate way to measure body fat percent is in a dunk tank or air displacement pod at a professional facility. But, that's pretty expensive. If you want do to it at home, scales that measure body far are the most accurate. If they have a handle to hold in your hands, even more so. But you can get a scale that measures it from Bed Bath & Beyond for about $20-$30 w/a coupon. Pinch tests are much less accurate than the scales. IF you want to try to make the scale measurements as accurate as possible...no eating/drinking for 4 hrs before testing, but hydrate really well up to that cut off, & no exercise for 12 hours. Completely dry feet & skin (don't do after a shower). BMI is really just an estimate of body fat percentage, but the more your body fat drops, the less accurate it is.

mumtoonegirl

found another one and it was the same 24.5% this time with my height.

Kind of depressing actually.... I am an hour glass, small in the waist and full hipped although much smaller than ever.

FP4HSharon

Here's recommendations for women, from another board question...

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WOMEN FOR ANY FEMALE POSTERS INTERESTED:

Covert Bailey's ("Fit or Fat") Recommendations

68% - Fattest Woman He's Tested
32% - Average American Woman
25% - Healthy Normal for Oriental* Woman
22% - Healthy Normal for Caucasian* Woman
19% - Healthy Normal for Black* Woman
10-18% - Top Women Athletes
6% - Lowest Woman He's Tested

*Racial Differences due to bone density differences in different races.


American Council on Exercise Recommendations for Women:

32% - Overweight
25-31% - Acceptable
21-24% - Fitness
14-20% - Athletes
10-12% - Essential Fat

mumtoonegirl

my BMI is within in normal range so guess that is good, considering when I started I was considered severely obese.

mumtoonegirl

Here's recommendations for women, from another board question...

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WOMEN FOR ANY FEMALE POSTERS INTERESTED:

Covert Bailey's ("Fit or Fat") Recommendations

68% - Fattest Woman He's Tested
32% - Average American Woman
25% - Healthy Normal for Oriental* Woman
22% - Healthy Normal for Caucasian* Woman
19% - Healthy Normal for Black* Woman
10-18% - Top Women Athletes
6% - Lowest Woman He's Tested

*Racial Differences due to bone density differences in different races.


American Council on Exercise Recommendations for Women:

32% - Overweight
25-31% - Acceptable
21-24% - Fitness
14-20% - Athletes
10-12% - Essential Fat

so being 24% isn't bad I guess, I am a 40 year old Caucasian female. I am just on the cusp of fitness for American council and with work I can get to the 22% for Caucasian females.

Just another thing to work towards.

FP4HSharon

On the average, people lose about 1% body fat for every 2 pounds they lose...but that's just a rough estimate. All the best in your efforts. :-)

watfordjc

I get Bod Pod scans every 12 weeks.

For an estimate (that is currently fairly out because of the amount of fat I'm carrying - it under estimates my BF%) I use the following fomula (US DOD/Navy, IIRC).

For men: (86.01 * log10((waist in inches - neck in inches))) - (70.041 * log10(height in inches)) + 36.76
For women: (163.205 * log10((waist in inches + hips in inches - neck in inches))) - (97.684 * log10(height in inches)) - 78.387

In the past I also used an AccuMeasure caliper, but I've misplaced it.