Body Fat Percentage

Kalrez
Kalrez Posts: 655 Member
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
So I'm in the process of setting realistic end goals for myself. I've decided that anywhere between 20-22% BF is where I'd like to be. I'm not sure what my current BF% is, so I thought I would look for a calculator or something online to give myself a rough estimate. (I plan to buy a new scale with BF capabilities by the end of the month.)

I came across this:http://www.bmi-calculator.net/body-fat-calculator/
And this: http://www.bmi-calculator.net/body-fat-calculator/body-fat-chart.php

I put my info into the calculator and got 27.38%, which is apparently acceptable according to that chart. I've got some chunk on my tummy, so I'm a bit skeptical on that percentage.

For those of you who know your BF%, does that calculator give you relative accurate results?

Replies

  • mjg08060
    mjg08060 Posts: 104 Member
    http://www.weight-loss-center.net/body_fat_calculator.html

    Try this one, it seems pretty accurate for me.
  • photorific
    photorific Posts: 577 Member
    Nope - was WAY low. I'm currently at 39%, but it returned a result of 27%.
  • Huskeryogi
    Huskeryogi Posts: 578 Member
    I get about the same as you when I do the internet calculation. My scale comes out about 2% higher. It all depends on where you carry your fat which gives you a higher result. My scale at the least has been very consistent. I swear to god my BF % goes down by .2% every week.

    Depending on how often you plan to monitor your BF % you could look into doing a water displacement test if you can find one in your area. I'm waiting until I lose another 15lbs to get one. In my area I found that both semi large universities gyms offer water displacement tests for about $25.
  • Black_Swan
    Black_Swan Posts: 770 Member
    I use this one...


    http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/diet.html

    I suggest sticking to one of them for all times and compare results from it:)
  • Mrs_TrimWaistFatWallet
    Mrs_TrimWaistFatWallet Posts: 486
    I estimated wrist and forearm and I got 23.8%. My scale says 25.5% so its probably about right.
  • amandalynn21
    amandalynn21 Posts: 6
    Mine came out 10% lower on the site than what my scale says.
  • Huskeryogi
    Huskeryogi Posts: 578 Member
    http://www.weight-loss-center.net/body_fat_calculator.html

    Try this one, it seems pretty accurate for me.

    This one told me I was at 20%. There's no way.
  • photorific
    photorific Posts: 577 Member
    http://www.weight-loss-center.net/body_fat_calculator.html

    Try this one, it seems pretty accurate for me.
    This one was much better - returned a result of 37% for me. IMO, 2% variable for an online calculator isn't horrible.
  • Phanessa917
    Phanessa917 Posts: 100 Member
    I get about the same as you when I do the internet calculation. My scale comes out about 2% higher. It all depends on where you carry your fat which gives you a higher result. My scale at the least has been very consistent. I swear to god my BF % goes down by .2% every week.

    Depending on how often you plan to monitor your BF % you could look into doing a water displacement test if you can find one in your area. I'm waiting until I lose another 15lbs to get one. In my area I found that both semi large universities gyms offer water displacement tests for about $25.

    The water deplacement test is the most accurate. Thinking about looking for one in my area.
  • Phanessa917
    Phanessa917 Posts: 100 Member
    The calculators online can't be accurate. Everyone's body is different. You can have a thin waist line but more fat in areas like thighs, arms, etc... everyone's body is different. I tried several sites one time and they're all different. frustrating. good luck!
  • bigredhearts
    bigredhearts Posts: 428
    these calculators were way off for e and i measure by calipers... there is one site that i have found that was almost spot on http://www.healthcentral.com/cholesterol/home-body-fat-test-2774-143.html
  • photorific
    photorific Posts: 577 Member
    LOL - looking at all the posts - it seems that each of them is accurate for different people... so knowing the one that's accurate for you is going to be impossible. I'd say pick one (I'd go with the highest), and keep using the same one to track progress - that way - even if it's not accurate, you'll at least have a consistent trend.
  • bigredhearts
    bigredhearts Posts: 428
    http://www.weight-loss-center.net/body_fat_calculator.html

    Try this one, it seems pretty accurate for me.
    This one was much better - returned a result of 37% for me. IMO, 2% variable for an online calculator isn't horrible.

    this one was also 1% off... btw DO NOT rely on scales or online calculators, it would be in your best interest to get a set of calipers, i found this out due to my scale that gives me that reading, and my scale says im 25% body fat and my calipers say im 19% soooooo im going to trust my calipers :)
  • jayb0ne
    jayb0ne Posts: 644 Member
    http://www.weight-loss-center.net/body_fat_calculator.html

    Try this one, it seems pretty accurate for me.
    This one was much better - returned a result of 37% for me. IMO, 2% variable for an online calculator isn't horrible.

    This one gave me 12%.

    This one:

    http://www.healthcentral.com/cholesterol/home-body-fat-test-2774-143.html

    gave me 11.5%

    I'm not sure about that. I reckon more like 15-18%. Might have to see about a caliper measurement soon to check.
  • Kalrez
    Kalrez Posts: 655 Member

    http://www.healthcentral.com/cholesterol/home-body-fat-test-2774-143.html

    This one seems much more accurate for me. All of the others give me a BF% in the average/acceptable range. I can tell you right now that I've got more than 20% BF. This site gave me 26.9% and I feel pretty confident in that.

    I understand that a water test or calibers would be significantly more accurate. I just wanted to get a rough estimate for now. I kept getting 20-22% from other sites, which just can't be right. Based on the pic below, I'm definitely closer to 30% than 20%.

    26.9%BF seems close enough.

    body-fat-percentage-pictures-female.jpg
    http://www.leighpeele.com/body-fat-pictures-and-percentages
  • Kalrez
    Kalrez Posts: 655 Member
    Decided to buy a body fat analyzer. Walmart has one for $30, so I figured "why not" Mine should be here around the middle of next week. Then I'll see how accurate those sites really were for me!

    http://www.walmart.com/ip/Omron-Portable-Body-Fat-Analyzer/3342463
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I came across this:http://www.bmi-calculator.net/body-fat-calculator/

    That one can't possibly be accurate since they don't ask for your height. Someone 5'8 is going to be a lot leaner (less body fat) with the same measurements and weight as someone 5'2.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    http://www.weight-loss-center.net/body_fat_calculator.html

    Try this one, it seems pretty accurate for me.

    This one told me I was at 20%. There's no way.

    That one said 15% for me! :laugh:
  • RobynC79
    RobynC79 Posts: 331 Member
    the bmi-calculator page tells me 16%.... No way.

    the weight-loss-center page tells me 13%.. Physically impossible (for me)

    my home scale tells me 19.2%

    my professionally measured BF% is supposedly 18.2%.

    So I would not trust the online calculators at all. Particularly the second one, as it doesn't even ask for height. I think the BF scales that you buy probably have about a 4% margin of error, from what I see. My BF changes every time I measure on it, I take an week's average.
  • Barneystinson
    Barneystinson Posts: 1,357 Member
    Had a Bod Pod analysis done - air displacement measurement, basically.

    26.6%

    That's (about) the same as my Omron scale. The Omron said 25.4.

    I really, really recommend having it professionally analyzed with either air / water displacement OR DXA scan if you're really serious about getting an accurate number.
  • dragonflydi
    dragonflydi Posts: 665 Member
    Decided to buy a body fat analyzer. Walmart has one for $30, so I figured "why not" Mine should be here around the middle of next week. Then I'll see how accurate those sites really were for me!

    http://www.walmart.com/ip/Omron-Portable-Body-Fat-Analyzer/3342463

    My gym has one of these, but when I asked about using it, they said it's basically a paper weight because it is not an accurate way to measure either BMI or body fat. :( Keep the receipt ... just in case.
  • dragonflydi
    dragonflydi Posts: 665 Member
    I went to the four different sites posted to calculate this and have a range of a full 10% between the four.

    Like LorinaLynn said, most of these cannot be accurate b/c they do not ask for your height ... and while I think one of them did, several just say XXX measurement, without being specific as to where exactly you should be measuring. Most ladies 'forearm' is a good 8-10" long and if you move towards your wrist just 1" closer than they are expecting you to or 1" towards your elbow, it will throw the entire calculation off.

    I had my body fat % measured on Wed of this week, at my gym by a trained professional using a digital set of calipers so I know what my body fat % is.

    The link that came up closest to my accurate body fat % was http://www.weight-loss-center.net/body_fat_calculator.html but given how little information that one actually asks for, I am certain that was just a fluke.
  • jayb0ne
    jayb0ne Posts: 644 Member
    My calipers arrived in the post today. £12.50 off ebay - can't grumble at that price!

    Accurate measurement to follow with weigh in tomorrow morning...
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