Body Fat testing - which method is the best?

astrampe
astrampe Posts: 2,169 Member
edited December 18 in Fitness and Exercise
Other than the water submersion thing of course...The scale at the gym (think it's tanita) puts me at 28%, the online measurement calculators put me anywhere between 24 and 29, and I just got a pair of acu-measure calipers that repeatedly comes down to 24.5%...
I have no idea which one is right......

Replies

  • AlliecoreXX
    AlliecoreXX Posts: 78 Member
    The calipers are going to be the most accurate of the 3....if they are used properly.
  • LovesGG
    LovesGG Posts: 241 Member
    The calipers are going to be the most accurate of the 3....if they are used properly.

    This.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    The more sites measured by calipers, the more accurate the reading. And calipers will be more accurate than the other 2.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
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    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • SVMR17
    SVMR17 Posts: 33
    I have a Tanita scale as well and it usually comes up higher than it should, I think. I am waiting for an AccuCaliper that I just ordered. I've heard that the best thing to do is take an average of all three.

    Another way to do it is with measuring tape and entering in the numbers to a website and seeing what it comes up with... http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/mbf/

    Then take the average of the scale, caliper, and bfp from measurements.
  • moye33
    moye33 Posts: 1
    All 3 are very good methods, but have different levels of variance (precision)

    According to Philip Goglia, in his book "Turn Up the Heat"

    Water submersion is accurate to approximately +/- 3% variance

    Tanita scale (if it has the hand held electrodes) is accurate to approximately +/- 3% variance

    Calipers are accurate to approximately +/- 5% variance
  • Taylerr88
    Taylerr88 Posts: 320 Member
    nothing is going to be 100% accurate..

    you can look into DEXA also.. its extremely accurate.. up there with the water thing.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual-energy_X-ray_absorptiometry
  • nick1109
    nick1109 Posts: 174 Member
    Calipers will be the most accurate
  • Newhampshireboy
    Newhampshireboy Posts: 30
    acu-measure calipers besides online do any stores sell them?
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    acu-measure calipers besides online do any stores sell them?

    Supplement shops often carry them. But they're only a few bucks online vs about $10 in the shops.
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