A skin fold test with a special skinfold caliper is considered to be the more accurate way to estimate body fat percentage than methods that use simple tape measurements. Here are 13 other testssome common some trendy some youll remember from gym classthat measure body fat and how accurately they can tell you whether youre carrying around too much fat.
Body Fat Measurement Chart
Body fat measurement sites. The sites used to determine body fat are usually identified by bony markings or body parts that are consistent between people like a nipple or navel. A skin fold test is a method of estimating body fat percentage by taking skin fold caliper measurements in 3 9 different locations on the body see glossary for pictures and then applying the results into one of the various formulas available. Measurements are taken at either 3 or 7 different sites on the body. This enables you to accurately find a specific point on the body no matter your overall body composition and find the same point again on anyone else. By doing this at the key locations can be a quite accurate representative of the total amount of fat that is on your body it is also possible to estimate the total percent of bodyfat on your body. A textbook of body measurement for sports and health courses unsw press 1996.
Horizontal fold directly over the kidneys and 2 inches to the right of spine. The body fat calculations are based on the jacksonpollock 3 site caliper method. To calculate body fat percentage add your waist and hip measurements and then subtract the neck measurement to determine your circumference value. For women the triceps area above the hip bone and either the thigh or abdomen. The specific sites used vary in men and women. To get the best results measure to the nearest 14 inch 05 cm.
Diagonal fold directly above iliac crest. For example if your waist is 30 your hips are. Determining your waist to height ratio and associated health risks coffee break. Use the metric units tab if you are more comfortable with the international system of units si. The body fat calculator can be used to estimate your total body fat based on specific measurements. The skinfold caliper is a device which measures the thickness of a fold of your skin with its underlying layer of fat.
Diagonal fold directly below shoulder blade.
Gallery of Body Fat Measurement Sites
