Best tool, gadget, scales to measure % body fat

grl82
grl82 Posts: 17 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hello all,

As I don't have much weight to lose and am trying to lose a few kilos before I move to toning up and weights I am getting more interested in my % body fat rather than my overall weight.

What is the most accurate way to measure % body fat - fancy scales? calipers etc.

Many thanks

Replies

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • Jenny_Aguayo
    Jenny_Aguayo Posts: 30 Member
    macphd12345 wrote: »
    Hello all,

    As I don't have much weight to lose and am trying to lose a few kilos before I move to toning up and weights I am getting more interested in my % body fat rather than my overall weight.

    What is the most accurate way to measure % body fat - fancy scales? calipers etc.

    Many thanks
    Its kinda obvious a weighing machine.

  • grl82
    grl82 Posts: 17 Member
    Won't a weighing machine just give me my weight?
  • CdnRower
    CdnRower Posts: 28 Member
    The best calipers are the Slim Guide brand. Use the 7 measurement formula for greatest accuracy.
  • grl82
    grl82 Posts: 17 Member
    Thanks for the post CdnRower! Much appreciated
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • Jenny_Aguayo
    Jenny_Aguayo Posts: 30 Member
    AlondraJim wrote: »
    macphd12345 wrote: »
    Won't a weighing machine just give me my weight?

    not if you buy the cool new ones
    Of course I got the new cool one
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Those weighing machines are not accurate.

    The only accurate way is an expensive test where they put you in water... the rest is pretty much guesswork. Calipers are nice and all but when you start having loose skin like me, I don't think it's very accurate either.
  • grl82
    grl82 Posts: 17 Member
    Thank you FrancI27. I may have a look around to see if there is such a test place near me. I would like to do it once now and maybe again in a year to see any change :)
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    macphd12345 wrote: »
    Hello all,

    As I don't have much weight to lose and am trying to lose a few kilos before I move to toning up and weights I am getting more interested in my % body fat rather than my overall weight.

    What is the most accurate way to measure % body fat - fancy scales? calipers etc.

    Many thanks

    Weight training is also good when trying to lose weight. This helps you retain more lean muscle. You can lose a higher percentage of fat to muscle if you strength train now.
  • philwrightfitness
    philwrightfitness Posts: 122
    Dexa body scan about £80 pounds in uk , Google it many universities provide the service, the only really accurate measurement of body fat , it isn't cheap but if you do it twice a year not much more than investing in the best scales which don't even come close otherwise calipers and a mirror!
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    There is no best, at least not that you can do yourself/at home. Go by measurements and what you see in the mirror. Even "professional" methods can be highly variable.

    Body fat % is just another estimate, just another number, and just another things to mess with your head.
  • dopeysmelly
    dopeysmelly Posts: 1,390 Member
    edited October 2014
    There are photo galleries online which you can use to compare yourself to. I use that and the military body fat estimator (although I think that's over-estimating for me a bit). Neither are really ideal, but I'm not looking for accuracy, just a range.
  • FunkyTobias
    FunkyTobias Posts: 1,776 Member
    jacksonpt wrote: »
    There is no best, at least not that you can do yourself/at home. Go by measurements and what you see in the mirror. Even "professional" methods can be highly variable.

    Body fat % is just another estimate, just another number, and just another things to mess with your head.

    This is the correct answer.
  • jakichan
    jakichan Posts: 109 Member
    I've got the Withings scale that does body fat, but it's highly inaccurate and very much impacted by your level of hydration. I tried it out the morning of my most recent dunk test and it wasn't even close.
  • Joannah700
    Joannah700 Posts: 2,665 Member
    I did a hydrostatic test and RMR test recently - cost about $120, individually it would have been $65.

    The hydrostatic test is the one where they weigh you in a bathing suit, then you go into a tub of body temperature water and blow out all your air to find out what your lean body mass is and what isn't.

    I wanted the information because while I have a healthy BMI, according to online calculators (including military) with my measurements my fat percentage ranged between 25-30%, and before I decided to go forward with pursuing a low BMI - I wanted to make sure it was what my body really needed. I'm glad I did because the hydrostatic test had me at 21% body fat.
  • Foamroller
    Foamroller Posts: 1,041 Member
    Try on old "skinny" clothes. you won't get the % number, but it's dead cheap:P

    Agree with comparing with pics if definition is important to you.
  • geojeepgirl
    geojeepgirl Posts: 243 Member
    How about bod pod test?
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    I don't remember what it is called, but they dunk you in a tub of water and somehow this gives the best possible reading. That is literally everything I remember about it. I never had it done.
  • philwrightfitness
    philwrightfitness Posts: 122
    Just for completeness déxa is more accurate than hydrostatic or bod pod testing,
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    jacksonpt wrote: »
    There is no best, at least not that you can do yourself/at home. Go by measurements and what you see in the mirror. Even "professional" methods can be highly variable.

    Body fat % is just another estimate, just another number, and just another things to mess with your head.

    Agreed.
  • grl82
    grl82 Posts: 17 Member
    I have found a local hospital who will do the bodpod for £50. I might give it a go and see what the results are.
  • geojeepgirl
    geojeepgirl Posts: 243 Member
    Im doing bod pod next week, just see what the results are at this stage of weightloss, then going back in about 6 months.
  • grl82
    grl82 Posts: 17 Member
    Hi geojeepgirl,

    Let me know how it goes. I would be interested to hear your thoughts about it.
  • geojeepgirl
    geojeepgirl Posts: 243 Member
    @macphd12345 according to bodpod.. my BMR is lower than what some of the online calculators came back with so Im potentially eating more and have a smaller deficit than what I thought I was at. The test literally took only a minute, took me longer to get undressed and dressed..lol This one told me my fat free mass vs my fat mass. I think when all is said an done.. Im changing my goal weight by about 10 lbs based on what my fat free mass number ended up being. I thought it was worth it and will do it again in about 6 months.
  • BlackTimber
    BlackTimber Posts: 230 Member
    A mirror/camera. I understand the need for a number in the end it is just a number. Don't wait to start working out - get going!

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