Best way to measure body fat?

lauz45
lauz45 Posts: 243
edited September 29 in Health and Weight Loss
I have some weight watchers scales that put me at 34% body fat, at 5'3 and 144lbs (BMI 25.5). Doesn't that seem high? I do have a very wobbly bum but i've also got good strong thighs from years of horse riding, and a reasonably flat stomach.

My scales say a very different story to this website: http://www.bmi-calculator.net/body-fat-calculator which estimates my body fat to be 26.48% (normal!). I can't believe I could be in the normal category either, are the measurements thrown out by my 5" wrists? Waist is 30", hips are 37", forearms 8.75".

Short of getting calipers, is there an accurate at-home method at all?

Replies

  • jennywrens
    jennywrens Posts: 208
    I tried an online test and it came back at 28% ...... i think my tiny wrists and forearms fooled it slightly!

    I went to the gym and used the supersonic machine there with hand grips and it came back at 40% ..... eeeeeeek!

    Moral of the story - online testing wasn't accurate!! :o(
  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
    I have some weight watchers scales that put me at 34% body fat, at 5'3 and 144lbs (BMI 25.5). Doesn't that seem high? I do have a very wobbly bum but i've also got good strong thighs from years of horse riding, and a reasonably flat stomach.

    My scales say a very different story to this website: http://www.bmi-calculator.net/body-fat-calculator which estimates my body fat to be 26.48% (normal!). I can't believe I could be in the normal category either, are the measurements thrown out by my 5" wrists? Waist is 30", hips are 37", forearms 8.75".

    Short of getting calipers, is there an accurate at-home method at all?

    I don't know...my calipers were $5 on amazon...shipped free since I bought a new scale at the same time. Bodyfat scales are almost guaranteed to be inaccurate, and in my experience...inaccurate on the high end (tell you more than you actually are).

    Mine was off by about 7%.
  • Avalonis
    Avalonis Posts: 1,540 Member
    NONE, I repeat NONE of the electrical methods are accurate. They can be as much as 12% off!

    My scale at home says I am at 30%+ Body fat... I'm actually near 16%.

    Get measured professionally, either by a doctor or at a gym using calipers (Which still have a margin of error)

    The most accurate methods are the water tank and full body imager methods, but they are both expensive.
  • jkestens63
    jkestens63 Posts: 1,164 Member
    I am old school, how much does my fat flop and jiggle when I exercise??? Too much right now zo need to eat less, move more!
  • Nikstergirl
    Nikstergirl Posts: 1,549 Member
    At my gym they have that electronic thing that you hold in your hands out in front of you. It's telling me that I'm still at 34% also, but I'm hoping that's reading high. It was still down from 38% in December, but whatever, I'd have thought it was lower still! Guess I need the caliper test.
  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
    NONE, I repeat NONE of the electrical methods are accurate. They can be as much as 12% off!

    My scale at home says I am at 30%+ Body fat... I'm actually near 16%.

    Get measured professionally, either by a doctor or at a gym using calipers (Which still have a margin of error)

    The most accurate methods are the water tank and full body imager methods, but they are both expensive.

    I just checked mine again, my 'go walking' bodyfat scale says I'm 28%, the calipers say between 19% and 20%, using the 7pt and 3pt methods respectively.

    Inaccurate is an understatement lol =D.

    Cris
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