Thread: measuring body fat

As far I understand if a person (disregarding his/her age height race sex) weighs for example, 100 kg of which 20kg is fat then that person's b/f % is 20 - right?

Well I would have thought so; but many elesctronic bf monitors ask for an input of weight age height sex ( a caucasion and asian monitors differ too)
Why all this data? Maybe its 'fixed' as I can get a higher fat reading by just inputting a higher age.

The internet also offers a few online monitors but it seems they work on the assumption a bigger waistline a bigger b/f %.

Recently I bought a pair of calipers which only reqiure one measurement (one inch above the right hipbone) which is 'converted' into b/f.( When I had my b/f taken in the gym the trainer took 4 or 5 measurements.) But Whatever system is used it seems at least age and sex is important - why I wonder? old female fat is probably the same as young male fat.

Now I have been told my pot belly is the result of abdominal prolapse and if there is an excess of fat then it is internal and not sub cutenous -- maybe the advantage of the electronic monitor is it can measure 'internal' fat?

Anyway maybe someone can answer my queries and tell me if just taking one measurement can a good indication of b/f % -- if not, how many should I take and where.

Advice appreciated Thank you

Originally Posted by gareth

As far I understand if a person (disregarding his/her age height race sex) weighs for example, 100 kg of which 20kg is fat then that person's b/f % is 20 - right?

Well I would have thought so; but many elesctronic bf monitors ask for an input of weight age height sex ( a caucasion and asian monitors differ too)
Why all this data? Maybe its 'fixed' as I can get a higher fat reading by just inputting a higher age.

The internet also offers a few online monitors but it seems they work on the assumption a bigger waistline a bigger b/f %.

Recently I bought a pair of calipers which only reqiure one measurement (one inch above the right hipbone) which is 'converted' into b/f.( When I had my b/f taken in the gym the trainer took 4 or 5 measurements.) But Whatever system is used it seems at least age and sex is important - why I wonder? old female fat is probably the same as young male fat.

Now I have been told my pot belly is the result of abdominal prolapse and if there is an excess of fat then it is internal and not sub cutenous -- maybe the advantage of the electronic monitor is it can measure 'internal' fat?

Anyway maybe someone can answer my queries and tell me if just taking one measurement can a good indication of b/f % -- if not, how many should I take and where.

Advice appreciated Thank you

the data that they use to calcutate bf is based statisics gathered from various ages and races...