Question about body fat percentage

ashley_6d9
ashley_6d9 Posts: 2
in Motivation and Support
I am trying to track my weight loss by body fat percentage instead of BMI but I have tried about 20 different calculators on the internet and half of them say 26.5% and half say about 32%....I am 5'1 137lbs 38''chest 29''at the smallest part of my waist and 40.5 hips which one am I....also am I an hourglass or a pear ( my thighs are big 25'')

Replies

  • ca11herAlaska
    ca11herAlaska Posts: 8 Member
    It's pretty difficult to calculate body fat %. I wouldn't trust any tool on the internet. To get a really accurate number you'll need equipment and you'll need someone who knows how to use it. Calipers will be more accurate than a website. If you really want accuracy you'll have to pay for it via water displacement. If you live near any universities with sports med or sports science programs you can poke around and see if they're doing any kind of studies that measure body fat you could participate in.
  • grimendale
    grimendale Posts: 2,153 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/975025-in-place-of-a-road-map-short-n-sweet?hl=short+and+sweet&page=10#posts-15694678

    The above link gives a decent method for calculating body fat, taking the average of three fairly accurate methods. My results are usually quite close to what I get from the calipers at the doctor's office (with 0.5%, usually).
  • Tann19
    Tann19 Posts: 94 Member
    online calculators aren't going to be very helpful, with mine they say my body-fat is 25 % but that is not even close. I use a scale that calculates body-fat which is fairly accurate, definitely better than the internet. Paid $50 at walmart.

    There are other methods you can use to calculate, formulas, but I can't bother with all that.

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