Body fat

Juliette320
Juliette320 Posts: 144 Member
edited October 7 in Health and Weight Loss
how do you figure out your body fat percentage ?

Replies

  • erinw1011
    erinw1011 Posts: 86 Member
    BUMP I want to know as well.
  • vmclach
    vmclach Posts: 670 Member
    there are a lot of ways. If you are broke and want a rough estimate in your home, you can use websites that have calculators
    http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/diet.html
    i use that website. I know it's not as accuarate as other methods, but it's the only way I can do it..
  • thatgirl125
    thatgirl125 Posts: 294 Member
    bump
  • miss_itzy
    miss_itzy Posts: 1
    There are some calculators online that will estimate it for you based on height, weight and waist measurement, but they aren't all that accurate. You can use callipers, but that is kind of complicated. There are scales you can get that will send an electronic pulse to measure your Body Fat %, but there are some issues with accuracy because they only send a pulse through your legs, so apple shaped people may not get an accurate reading. Information here:

    http://www.formulamedical.com/formula for life/measurement&diaries/consumerscales.htm

    They are great to monitor change in your body composition though, so if you monitor this regularly you will be able to see a positive or negative change! I have one at home, and I am loving it. They had the Biggest Loser brand one at winners for $20!

    I think that the most accurate measurement has to do with some equipment where they immerse you in water? Not sure where you can get that done though.

    Hope that helps :-)
  • choirgirl1130
    choirgirl1130 Posts: 80 Member
    you can google different calculators that will give you an ESTIMATE of your body fat based on body measurements, age, sex, weight...these can be helpful to measure body fat LOSS. you can also go to a local gym and have a trainer use calipers to give you an idea what your body fat % may be. the most accurate way to measure body fat % can be done at wellness center/hospitals or at your local university using an underwater submersion tank or a DEXA scan...both though can be expensive, but your health insurance may cover a DEXA scan to measure bone density.
  • BVegasIs4Lovers
    BVegasIs4Lovers Posts: 27 Member
    there are a lot of ways. If you are broke and want a rough estimate in your home, you can use websites that have calculators
    http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/diet.html
    i use that website. I know it's not as accuarate as other methods, but it's the only way I can do it..
    Thanks!
  • grapenutSF
    grapenutSF Posts: 648 Member
    I've recently done those online estimates, and then today got an assessment by an exercise physiologist at my gym. His assessment was 21 whereas the online guesses were as high as 28! I trust his more-- and not just cuz it leaves me happier.

    I just bought this from amazon:

    http://www.amazon.com/Omron-HBF-306C-Loss-Monitor-Black/dp/B000FYZMYK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325707572&sr=8-1
  • AZackery
    AZackery Posts: 2,035 Member
    I have a body fat scale and Omron handheld body fat monitor. I trust both of them. They are accurate for me. The only method that's said to be 100% accurate is an autopsy, but of course people won't better find out their accuracy then.

    Some people trust Bodpod. Some the dunk test and some the dexa scan. A lot of people will claim that the dexa scan is accurate. The dexa scan is the only test that will include the fat in your brain, bones, etc. This test can cost $100.00 and I don't think that you can just go request one. You have to have a referral from a doctor to get the test done. If I am wrong, I stand corrected. A dexa scan is a machine that checks the bones. Not all dexa scan machine can read body fat percentage.

    Calipers aren't credit equal. I think they can only read up to 30% body fat percentage, anything above that, they can't read, so a caliper is not recommended to be used on obese people.

    Some people use online calculators. I rather my scale and handheld monitor. A lot of people would be surprise just how close a body fat scale reading and handheld body fat reading is to a Bodpod or dunk test reading.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    there are a lot of ways. If you are broke and want a rough estimate in your home, you can use websites that have calculators
    http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/diet.html
    i use that website. I know it's not as accuarate as other methods, but it's the only way I can do it..

    I use that website, too. There's more accurate ways of having it checked, like a bod pod, dexa scan or calipers if someone knows how to use them. But I go by measurements and eyeball. This site -http://www.leighpeele.com/body-fat-pictures-and-percentages - has photos of what different body fat percentages look like. By measurements, I'm about 18-19%, and by looking at the photos on that site, I'd say I'm probably close to 20%. Close enough. :tongue:
  • Juliette320
    Juliette320 Posts: 144 Member
    Thank you all, I am definitely broke so I'm going to use the websiTes y'all suggested (:
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