How do you calculate bodyfat %?

Tzippy7
Tzippy7 Posts: 344 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have calculated it using a number of different online calculators. I have results ranging from 11% to 27.9%. How do I know which ones are accurate? Im guessing im somewhere in the middle. What do you use ?

Replies

  • leomom72
    leomom72 Posts: 1,797 Member
    bump..i wanna know too
  • pbajwally
    pbajwally Posts: 210 Member
    After getting my BF% done by a trainer, I bought the same device they used: Omron Fat Loss Monitor. It was about $30 on Amazon & for my journey, it was totally worth it.
  • stellapiano
    stellapiano Posts: 45 Member
    It's measured on my scale, along with weight and hydration.
  • 10kg6months
    10kg6months Posts: 17
    bump.
  • gungho66
    gungho66 Posts: 284 Member
    very accurate

    http://www.amazon.com/MyoTape-Body-Measure-Caliper-Combo/dp/B0040LAHH6/ref=pd_sim_hpc_6
  • SilkyHotspur
    SilkyHotspur Posts: 233 Member
    You cannot effectively calculate using online calculators. The basic method you need is using Calipers by Accufitness, they're inexpensive, and the instructions call for a 1 position measurement (link below). I have also used them to perform 3, and 7 position measurements and have input the results in mm into a calculator, and the results match the same 1 position.

    http://www.amazon.com/Accufitness-Accu-Measure-Fitness-Personal-caliper/dp/B000Z91U50/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339122966&sr=8-1

    Another option is the handheld body fat analyzer by Omron, I have one of these also. The best time and most consistently repeatable body conditions are. First thing in the morning, after the shower, no lotion on hands...weigh-in, then use BF Analyzer. This is also within 1-2% of the handheld calipers.

    http://www.amazon.com/Omron-Logic-Monitor-model-HBF-306C/dp/B00006WNPU

    To see where both of these readings can get you, the chart below comes with the calipers, and is excellent for a reference.

    http://www.accufitness.com/images/pdf/accufitness-accumeasure-bodyfatchart.pdf

    The link below is for ExRx, and has calculators for 3 and 7 position tests.
    http://www.exrx.net/Calculators/BodyComp.html

    I'm sure people will post about using a "BodPod", and "Water Displacement", all of them are good....none is really that much more accurate than the others, with the exception of the calipers, and those are subject to human error. So given the cost and convenience of all of them, either the calipers, or for simple ease of use, the Omron and for under $30, quite a deal.

    Note:...have used the Omron on over 80 people at work running Biggest Loser contests...the results are reliable, just ensure your test conditions are consistent.
  • PLUMSGRL
    PLUMSGRL Posts: 1,134 Member
    Bod Pod
  • SilkyHotspur
    SilkyHotspur Posts: 233 Member
    It's measured on my scale, along with weight and hydration.

    Having demo'd a number of scales with weight, bf%, and hydration, I have found them to be 5-7% high in BF readings, depending on how much fat is in the legs. I believe the more accurate measure is BIA across the hands, or calipers measuring all positions. My scale has BF%, and always shows me at 17.5 - 19.5%, however, calipers and handheld unit show 13 - 14%. Given how I look...i'll go with the lower being more accurate.
  • Leif76
    Leif76 Posts: 1
    You can have your body fat tested in several ways. The most acurate is being submersed in water and it's pretty hard to find some place to have it done. You can also test your body fat using calipers (pinchers that measure your fat at several different places on your body) and they are pretty accurate. If you belong to a YMCA they will do this for you, usually for free. The easiest way to track it at home would be with a good scale. You can get a programable scale that will test and record your body fat. I bought one at Sams Club for about 40 bucks.
  • awisegirl84
    awisegirl84 Posts: 82 Member
    bump
  • treetop57
    treetop57 Posts: 1,578 Member
    I use this calculator (http://www.bmi-calculator.net/body-fat-calculator/) , which for men makes an estimate based on weight and waist size. I know that it's probably not very accurate in an absolute sense, especially for someone like me who's pretty far away from the average sizes that equations of these types are based on. But I like to get a sense of whether my weight loss is coming from fat or not, and I figure as a relative measure, this type of equation can give me an idea of progress, even if the exact numbers it gives are not accurate in themselves.

    So my advice? Find a method and stick to it. The estimates based on simple measurements (waist for men; waist, hips, wrist, and forearm for women) have the advantage of being simple and cheap, so you can do them yourself without too much trouble. Sure a hydrostatic weighing will be more accurate, but how often can you do that to gauge progress?

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