What's the Best Body Fat % Calc Tool?

WendyFitMomCHANGED
WendyFitMomCHANGED Posts: 303 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I'm looking for a calculator to help me track my body fat %. I googled some and they are all so different. I know there are better methods (i.e. calipers, etc). I was in the Air Force and remember we did it based on height, neck, waist and hip measurement.

This website seemed to have that but I wondered if anyone knew some better or more accurate ones? Not saying this isn't accurate (prob is) but thought I'd check.

http://www.bmi-calculator.net/body-fat-calculator/

Replies

  • diverdiza
    diverdiza Posts: 82 Member
    I'm a new member but a more experienced member (heybales) recommends this one in a spreadsheet he has done with all sorts of nifty calculations:

    www.gymgoal.com/dtool_fat.html

    I plugged my figures into the one you are using and get figures much lower than I think realistic for me. The nice thing about the one above is it uses a variety of different methods to give you an average score.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,340 Member
    I'm a new member but a more experienced member (heybales) recommends this one in a spreadsheet he has done with all sorts of nifty calculations:

    www.gymgoal.com/dtool_fat.html

    I plugged my figures into the one you are using and get figures much lower than I think realistic for me. The nice thing about the one above is it uses a variety of different methods to give you an average score.
    I just tried that one and the average was within 0.05% of what I get from 3-site skinfold caliper testing. Seems to be the most accurate anthropometric measurement site I've run across.
  • JNick77
    JNick77 Posts: 3,783 Member
    The easiest one to get done is calipers and it's pretty good depending on who does them. I believe the water test is good and some universities have a higher-tech test but I cannot remember what it's called.

    Don't even bother with those scales or hand-held units, they suck. Yes I know doctors use them, they still suck.
  • diverdiza
    diverdiza Posts: 82 Member
    I'm a new member but a more experienced member (heybales) recommends this one in a spreadsheet he has done with all sorts of nifty calculations:

    www.gymgoal.com/dtool_fat.html

    I plugged my figures into the one you are using and get figures much lower than I think realistic for me. The nice thing about the one above is it uses a variety of different methods to give you an average score.
    I just tried that one and the average was within 0.05% of what I get from 3-site skinfold caliper testing. Seems to be the most accurate anthropometric measurement site I've run across.
    Thanks for the feedback AnvilHead. So in the absence of someone to do a caliper test it seems the gymgoal tool is pretty accurate which is good to know... :smile:
  • rkr22401
    rkr22401 Posts: 216 Member
    http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/

    Several good calculators on this site. They also have an iPhone app.
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    The easiest one to get done is calipers and it's pretty good depending on who does them. I believe the water test is good and some universities have a higher-tech test but I cannot remember what it's called.

    Don't even bother with those scales or hand-held units, they suck. Yes I know doctors use them, they still suck.

    @ JNick- Bod pods or DEXA scan is what you're looking for.

    The calc suggestions offered are good- pick one and stick with it to measure progress- I personally use the military BF equation for that purpose, there's a calculator at the fat2fitradio site someone already mentioned.

    Pick up a pair of calipers- you can get a pair for like $2, and watch some youtube videos on how to use them. The accuracy depends a LOT on the skill level of the person using them, but the best way to get skilled is to start learning right away.:happy:
  • rkr22401
    rkr22401 Posts: 216 Member
    As a former member of the military I have never been a fan of the BF measurement technique they use. They basically take the difference between your neck and waist circumference and get a BF% from a table based on your height.

    The problem is some people have larger or thinner necks than others. I've seen very overweight people meet the standard because they also had correspondingly fat necks. I've seen slightly overweight people not meet the standard because they had scrawny necks.

    That fat2fit calculators that take various measurements across the body compare favorably to calipers and handheld impedance devices (used properly).

    Of course they are all estimates. The trend in a particular tool is more useful than an individual estimate.
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