Decent online estimator for body fat %? or can anyone who knows % try this one to see if it's close?
Verity1111
Posts: 3,307 Member
I'm trying to figure out a general estimate my body fat % even with 5-10% error or something. http://www.active.com/fitness/calculators/bodyfat is what I've found so far. Do you think it could be close at all? I also saw a chart for body fat but it only took into account waist size. I know dexiscan is most accurate, but I just want a rough idea out of curiosity. lol. Not sure if these work or if there's anything close.
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That one seems wayyy off lol this one seems better... http://www.calculator.net/body-fat-calculator.html0
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Seeing as how they won't let you put in partial inches, it's not very close. I ran my numbers and either way I rounded the measurements it was off by 7-12%.1
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Seeing as how they won't let you put in partial inches, it's not very close. I ran my numbers and either way I rounded the measurements it was off by 7-12%.
I agree. The second one is a bit better. The first was way way off lol it told me 27% and I am obese so um no. The second said something like 40% which is possible. The chart said 30%. Guess I need a scan because thats all way different lol Thanks for trying.0 -
Verity1111 wrote: »Seeing as how they won't let you put in partial inches, it's not very close. I ran my numbers and either way I rounded the measurements it was off by 7-12%.
I agree. The second one is a bit better. The first was way way off lol it told me 27% and I am obese so um no. The second said something like 40% which is possible. The chart said 30%. Guess I need a scan because thats all way different lol Thanks for trying.
Second one was closer for me.1 -
Verity1111 wrote: »Seeing as how they won't let you put in partial inches, it's not very close. I ran my numbers and either way I rounded the measurements it was off by 7-12%.
I agree. The second one is a bit better. The first was way way off lol it told me 27% and I am obese so um no. The second said something like 40% which is possible. The chart said 30%. Guess I need a scan because thats all way different lol Thanks for trying.
Second one was closer for me.
Me too. I am pretty sure I'm somewhere 30-40%. It says 41% so I'll assume I'm near 40%. It's my giant 44" hips that put me up there I think lol. Thank you again!0 -
Well the first one put me at 27% so I might not put too much stock in that one (or you know, I need to cut again much more urgently than I thought
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The second put me at 22% which I would say is close given that race season for me only opened last week and I'm above my ideal race weight. I put in my stats from end of last season where I was roughly 18% and it gave me 17%. If you had to choose between the two I'd say go with two.2 -
JessicaMcB wrote: »Well the first one put me at 27% so I might not put too much stock in that one (or you know, I need to cut again much more urgently than I thought ).
The second put me at 22% which I would say is close given that race season for me only opened last week and I'm kind of a chubby bunny atm. I put in my stats from end of last season where I was roughly 18% and it gave me 17%. If you had to choose between the two I'd say go with two.
Thank you! I am assuming I am around 40% then. It said 41% I think. I actually have been assuming I was around there, so I'm not shocked, although it is sad because I am only 7lbs from the overweight category (rather than obese) for BMI. I feel my body fat is pretty high for my weight... maybe it's because I was in a wheelchair for a while/immobile. I also put my waist and hips to the highest even # (need to remeasure) so that may change a bit.1 -
Verity1111 wrote: »JessicaMcB wrote: »Well the first one put me at 27% so I might not put too much stock in that one (or you know, I need to cut again much more urgently than I thought ).
The second put me at 22% which I would say is close given that race season for me only opened last week and I'm kind of a chubby bunny atm. I put in my stats from end of last season where I was roughly 18% and it gave me 17%. If you had to choose between the two I'd say go with two.
Thank you! I am assuming I am around 40% then. It said 41% I think. I actually have been assuming I was around there, so I'm not shocked, although it is sad because I am only 7lbs from the overweight category (rather than obese) for BMI. I feel my body fat is pretty high for my weight... maybe it's because I was in a wheelchair for a while/immobile. I also put my waist and hips to the highest even # (need to remeasure) so that may change a bit.
I was close to or over that point when I started here- with consistent logging and patience 41% is going to be a distant memory
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JessicaMcB wrote: »Well the first one put me at 27% so I might not put too much stock in that one (or you know, I need to cut again much more urgently than I thought ).
The second put me at 22% which I would say is close given that race season for me only opened last week and I'm kind of a chubby bunny atm. I put in my stats from end of last season where I was roughly 18% and it gave me 17%. If you had to choose between the two I'd say go with two.
first of all you arent chubby and I would say you are less than 22% as it says Im 24% and I have more fat that you(that I can see)2 -
My last hydro test on 4/1 was 10.1% at 158#. My last DXA scan on 2/25 was 14% at 159.5#. Have another DXA scan scheduled for 6/3. My DXA scan results are always about 3-4% higher than my hydro test results.
My weight today was 157.9#; almost exactly the same as on 4/1. I have a lot of muscular definition and defined abs. Most closely resemble a middleweight boxer in size and physique.
The 1st calculator result was 19%.
The 2nd calculator result was 16.3%
Here's another tape measure calculator by Covert Baily (Fit2Fat) that uses more body measurements than the others.
The result using this calculator was 14.8%, which is the closest for me.
See: http://www.fat2fittools.com/tools/cbbf/
Generally speaking, if you're using a tape measure calculator to determine BF%, the more body measurements used the more accurate the calculation will be.
However, the inherent problem w/using the tape measurement method is that, if you are muscular w/relatively low BF (as I am) , your calculated BF will probably be higher than it actually is because your body measurements are higher than the standards used by the calculator.
In any event, the Fit2Fat calculator seems to be the most accurate of the 3 for me.3 -
CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »JessicaMcB wrote: »Well the first one put me at 27% so I might not put too much stock in that one (or you know, I need to cut again much more urgently than I thought ).
The second put me at 22% which I would say is close given that race season for me only opened last week and I'm kind of a chubby bunny atm. I put in my stats from end of last season where I was roughly 18% and it gave me 17%. If you had to choose between the two I'd say go with two.
first of all you arent chubby and I would say you are less than 22% as it says Im 24% and I have more fat that you(that I can see)
I meant more in the sense that I am above my "fighting weight" so I don't look as cut. Poor word choice on my part, I'll edit.1 -
JessicaMcB wrote: »CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »JessicaMcB wrote: »Well the first one put me at 27% so I might not put too much stock in that one (or you know, I need to cut again much more urgently than I thought ).
The second put me at 22% which I would say is close given that race season for me only opened last week and I'm kind of a chubby bunny atm. I put in my stats from end of last season where I was roughly 18% and it gave me 17%. If you had to choose between the two I'd say go with two.
first of all you arent chubby and I would say you are less than 22% as it says Im 24% and I have more fat that you(that I can see)
I meant more in the sense that I am above my "fighting weight" so I don't look as cut. Poor word choice on my part, I'll edit.
Also not in a mean way but youre very thin so 22% isnt as much fat as one may assume lol. Im sure you have some fat because you need it to be alive. Lol. And seeing as you dont have like defined abs right now 20-22% seems fine to me. I redid my measurements using point something and I got 39.9% Hey it's under 41 (what it gave me with rough estimates) lol.0 -
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My last hydro test on 4/1 was 10.1% at 158#. My last DXA scan on 2/25 was 14% at 159.5#. Have another DXA scan scheduled for 6/3. My DXA scan results are always about 3-4% higher than my hydro test results.
My weight today was 157.9#; almost exactly the same as on 4/1. I have a lot of muscular definition and defined abs. Most closely resemble a middleweight boxer in size and physique.
The 1st calculator result was 19%.
The 2nd calculator result was 16.3%
Here's another tape measure calculator by Covert Baily (Fit2Fat) that uses more body measurements than the others.
The result using this calculator was 14.8%, which is the closest for me.
See: http://www.fat2fittools.com/tools/cbbf/
Generally speaking, if you're using a tape measure calculator to determine BF%, the more body measurements used the more accurate the calculation will be.
However, the inherent problem w/using the tape measurement method is that, if you are muscular w/relatively low BF (as I am) , your calculated BF will probably be higher than it actually is because your body measurements are higher than the standards used by the calculator.
In any event, the Fit2Fat calculator seems to be the most accurate of the 3 for me.
That was WAYYYY off lol it said 23.8% That is not even possible... I'm 5'4" 180lbs....
Measurements:
(Female)
Age 27
Wrist: 6.5
Waist 33.5
Hips 43.25
Neck: 13
Thigh: 25
Calves: 16.5
Forearm: 10
I found another good one but it uses only whole numbers. But I rounded up then did it again and rounded down and I have a range of 39.88% and 42.1% or something like that so again near 40% so I will assume that is where I'm at! This also makes perfect sense since obese is 40% + and I am 7lbs into the obese category (meaning if I lose 7lbs I am just "overweight") so I guess it is normal-ish for my weight after all...
EDIT: This is the one I liked! https://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/body-fat-percentage-calculator0 -
I use the other tools on this site, but tend to toss out the covert bailey as an outlier. The BF and Military are in the ballpark to my scale.1 -
This is what 27% looks like on me. Measured in my doctor's office. I guess I wear it well...5'7", 135-140 pounds. Seems like it should be lower to me.
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I think that different estimators are going to work well for different people. It depends on what measurements they use. Some people may have a higher body fat % but not carry it in the places a certain calculator asks for. If you carry more in your limbs a calculator that only uses waist and hips will give you a lower body fat that someone who is pear shaped.
Of course, any of these are only as good as the accuracy of your measurements.
For me the fist said 33%, the second was 26%, the third was 28.3% ... I haven't done any other assessments recently so I don't know which is closest.1 -
I think that different estimators are going to work well for different people. It depends on what measurements they use. Some people may have a higher body fat % but not carry it in the places a certain calculator asks for. If you carry more in your limbs a calculator that only uses waist and hips will give you a lower body fat that someone who is pear shaped.
Of course, any of these are only as good as the accuracy of your measurements.
For me the fist said 33%, the second was 26%, the third was 28.3% ... I haven't done any other assessments recently so I don't know which is closest.
The last one is best in my opinion! It measures everything - arms in two places, legs in two places, wrist, waist (in two places) and hips! oh and neck and height lol You need to estimate to the nearest whole number but all I did was estimate up and then down and I got a 3% range.https://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/body-fat-percentage-calculator 0 -
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Tacklewasher wrote: »
I use the other tools on this site, but tend to toss out the covert bailey as an outlier. The BF and Military are in the ballpark to my scale.
Yeah that one was bad for me!
Oh I didnt post the good one! It was this: https://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/body-fat-percentage-calculator uses whole numbers but I did it twice (once rounding up and once rounding down) and I got a range of 39.88% and 42.1% which seems right and pretty close for an estimate! 3% range is decent.0 -
@jenilla1 how did your doctor measure your bf%? With just the one photo to go on I'd say his estimate is high. Curious, what do the calculators discussed give you?3
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Tacklewasher wrote: »
I use the other tools on this site, but tend to toss out the covert bailey as an outlier. The BF and Military are in the ballpark to my scale.
Interesting!! There is a huge difference in the calculations between the BF (28) and Military (54) for my measurements. The CBBF is in between @38%. I can't trust electrical impedance used by scales because I have such a terrible time with edema in my feet and ankles, I think it would affect the measurement.
I'm considering investing in a pair of calipers, but it's early days in my WL journey. I just need to lose the weight, *then* I'll worry about my BF%.
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JessicaMcB wrote: »@jenilla1 how did your doctor measure your bf%? With just the one photo to go on I'd say his estimate is high. Curious, what do the calculators discussed give you?
I don't have a ton of pics - and no underwear pics.
Here's another from a couple of years ago, but weight and BF are pretty much the same. (crap. don't know why it's coming up so small. won't let me resize.)
At the doctor's office they took some measurements and did some calculations, and also did a bioelectrical impedance analysis (which can be off by 5% supposedly.) LOL, the second calculator said my BF is at 26.9%, which is .1% below the doctor's measurement. So although I consider myself to be fit, the online calculator says I have higher body fat than the average American woman. Hard to believe when I take a look around at my peers...
My BMI is 21. I run cross-county and weight train. I even have definition in my obliques and relatively flat abs, though not a 6-pack. Maybe the way my body is shaped throws off the measurements - or I'm just skinny-fat. But where is all this excess fat? Must be wrapped around my internal organs, slowly killing me. At least I still have a few percent to go before I'm officially BF obese.
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JessicaMcB wrote: »@jenilla1 how did your doctor measure your bf%? With just the one photo to go on I'd say his estimate is high. Curious, what do the calculators discussed give you?
I don't have a ton of pics - and no underwear pics.
Here's another from a couple of years ago, but weight and BF are pretty much the same. (crap. don't know why it's coming up so small. won't let me resize.)
At the doctor's office they took some measurements and did some calculations, and also did a bioelectrical impedance analysis (which can be off by 5% supposedly.) LOL, the second calculator said my BF is at 26.9%, which is .1% below the doctor's measurement. So although I consider myself to be fit, the online calculator says I have higher body fat than the average American woman. Hard to believe when I take a look around at my peers...
My BMI is 21. I run cross-county and weight train. I even have definition in my obliques and relatively flat abs, though not a 6-pack. Maybe the way my body is shaped throws off the measurements - or I'm just skinny-fat. But where is all this excess fat? Must be wrapped around my internal organs, slowly killing me. At least I still have a few percent to go before I'm officially BF obese.
Geeze don't scare me. If you're still near obese maybe I'll never get healthy lol I think you're fine.1 -
I do these calculators now and again to reassure myself that I'm not mad. I'm relatively low BF for my height and weight and I always had a vague goal what I should aim for, it's always validated within a couple of pounds and it being towards the upper end of a healthy BMI I am delighted because it means more food!0
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First one gave me 26%, second one gave me 25%. Seems a little high but it is only taking very few measurements into account. I think my booty gains are setting it off.
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First one gave me 26%, second one gave me 25%. Seems a little high but it is only taking very few measurements into account. I think my booty gains are setting it off.
haha maybe! I like the last one I just found here https://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/body-fat-percentage-calculator Like I said it uses whole number so I estimated up and then down and got a range of 39.88%-42.1%. Im still obese so it seems alright! Thanks for trying them!0 -
I think these reference pictures are just as useful for a rough ballpark idea....
https://www.builtlean.com/2012/09/24/body-fat-percentage-men-women/2 -
Verity1111 wrote: »First one gave me 26%, second one gave me 25%. Seems a little high but it is only taking very few measurements into account. I think my booty gains are setting it off.
haha maybe! I like the last one I just found here https://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/body-fat-percentage-calculator Like I said it uses whole number so I estimated up and then down and got a range of 39.88%-42.1%. Im still obese so it seems alright! Thanks for trying them!
That last one gave me 24.3%. Eh either way it's an estimate based on limited data. I prefer to look in the mirror and track measurement progression.
eta: Now that I look at the photo chart there I would say 22-24% so I guess the calculations are pretty reasonable.1 -
Verity1111 wrote: »First one gave me 26%, second one gave me 25%. Seems a little high but it is only taking very few measurements into account. I think my booty gains are setting it off.
haha maybe! I like the last one I just found here https://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/body-fat-percentage-calculator Like I said it uses whole number so I estimated up and then down and got a range of 39.88%-42.1%. Im still obese so it seems alright! Thanks for trying them!
That last one gave me 24.3%. Eh either way it's an estimate based on limited data. I prefer to look in the mirror and track measurement progression.
Yeah pretty much this. I use calculators as a rough guide but have always said I'll determine the switch to recomp point by what I see in the mirror. It's why I have a ballpark goal weight, I won't know until I get there.1
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