zonaguy03

What would be the easiest, most accurate way to measure my body fat %? I was thinking about buying a cheap plastic caliper and doing all the measurements and plugging it into a site? Any suggestions?

It's not who you are underneath, it's what you do that defines you.

Yanick

That should be fine, consistency is the key (to gauge progress), not the actual number.

"...we have to remember that training is a complicated dance of stimuli and response. Our goal is to understand how to manipulate the stimuli in order to evoke the responses we desire." -Nathan J. Polenchek

roger355

Well I am not much aware of how it works but it is said that Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women.

Many web sites have BMI calculators available to know index details. You can use any such calculator.

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Delusional

they got the digital calipers too but i duno how much better those would be than the plastic ones

Tatyana

Yes, and at 17% bodyfat, size 8 UK, size 6 US right now, I am bordering on an unhealthy BMI (it is close to 25).

For people that weight train, or have been quite athletic, the BMI is useless.

The cheap plastic calipers, the accumeasure, are good for a one site measurement.

You can also use them with the equations, however, good luck taking your own sub-scapular or back of tricep measurement on your own

x
x
x

T

Delusional

what do you think about the digital ones tatyana or have you ever had the chance to try one?
they seem pretty pricey so they must be nice?
or is just the simple plastic one good enough?

Tatyana

I have the cheap plastic ones, the expensive digital ones and I have a BMI scale (Tanita-Body Scan). I did get the scales half price.

In all honesty, I use the cheap plastic ones the most. Just one site usually as well.

I do also have my scales programmed so my bodyfat comes up everyday, I think it might be roughly accurate for my lower body, but it can fluctuate up to 4% depending on how hydrated I am.

I only start using the digital calipers when

1. my bodyfat is under 13% (lower limits for women)

2. I have someone who I know is skilled in taking my measurements and will do it on a fairly regular basis for me

I also have the calculations for more than one site measurements you can use the cheap calipers. They do give measurements in mm and inches.

Obviously, the mm is more accurate and you see change far more quickly

x
x
x

T

Tatyana

4 Site formula for men (abdomen, suprailiac, thigh, tricep)

% fat = .29288(sum of 4 skinfolds) - 0.0005(sum of four skinfolds squared) + 0.15845(age) - 5.76377

4-Site Formula for women (abdomen, suprailiac, thigh, tricep)

% Fat = (.29669)(sum of 4 skinfolds) - (.00043)(Sum of four skinfolds squared) + .02963(age) + 1.4072

[Source: Jackson A S, Pollock, M (1985) Practical assessment of body composition. Physician Sport Med. 13: 76-90.]

Uthinkso

I have the digital calipers, Accumeasure or some such thing. I'm going off memory right now. Anyhow, I can manipulate and change measurement easily. Especially the quad measurement, I don't have any real fat to grab there. So If I grab wide to get a pinch of something it registers like I grabbed a piece of fat and tells me I'm 40% BF.

I have the tape measure and calipers and have never really gotten a solid reading from them. When I had it checked at the gym they had better calipers and knew what they were checking for.

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