Body Fat %?

vallemic
vallemic Posts: 278 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
How do you accurately calculate your body fat %?

Replies

  • missym357
    missym357 Posts: 210 Member
    The most accurate way to find your body fat percentage is to do a water displacement test or have a dexa scan. There is also the bod pod. Caliper readings come in next. Measurements and scales are the least accurate. I've done the scale, online tape measure calculators, calipers done by a trainer and just recently had a dexa scan and the caliper measure was the closest. Online calculators and the scale were wrong by at least 5 percentage points.
  • vallemic
    vallemic Posts: 278 Member
    Thanks! Where does one get a water displacement test or a dexa scan?
  • trentnivins
    trentnivins Posts: 68 Member
    your local university should be able to help with that, I got mine tested at my local university.
    displacement test I should say.
  • leadoff
    leadoff Posts: 136 Member
    The most accurate way to find your body fat percentage is to do a water displacement test or have a dexa scan. There is also the bod pod. Caliper readings come in next. Measurements and scales are the least accurate. I've done the scale, online tape measure calculators, calipers done by a trainer and just recently had a dexa scan and the caliper measure was the closest. Online calculators and the scale were wrong by at least 5 percentage points.

    I have the Tanita BC-1000 and pair it with my Garmin FR60 for weight, body fat %, muscle mass and 6 other measurements that sync up with Garmin Connect. The review on DCRainmaker's site quotes a pretty accurate reading for the Tanita scales: “A 2007 study published in the journal Clinical Nutrition that compared measurements obtained from a Tanita body-fat scale and DEXA scanning reported a better than 96 percent level of agreement between the two methods (Thomas et al. 2007).”
    http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2010/02/tanita-bc-1000-scale-review-in-depth.html

    The scale is a bit pricey ($279), but I love having the info for training purposes! Plus, I found a package deal on the scale and the FR60 on <www.thecompetitiveedge.com> that prompted me to purchase the scale!
  • AZackery
    AZackery Posts: 2,035 Member
    Nothing is 100% accurate, except for an autopsy, which no one would know their body fat percentage then. I use my body fat scale and handheld monitor and I trust both of them.
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