|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/9/2008
Posts: 19,
Visits: 0
|
|
| Does anyone know of a reliable (but estimated) way to calculate your body fat percentage? I've looked at online calculators, but something just doesn't seem right about them. Are they good to use? Thanks for any info. sm
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Administrators
Last Login: 3/6/2009
Posts: 442,
Visits: 42
|
|
| There are a few formulas to estimate body fat using height and circumfrence (which is what you are probably seeing online), but these can be way off base, particularly for athletes (although I may add this calculation to Online Fitness Log). There are several other methods, the simplest of which is the skinfold thickness method where you use calipers for measurements at specific points on the body. Read more at Wikipedia... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_fat_percentage
Trevor Stith
Online Fitness Log
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/20/2008
Posts: 3,
Visits: 0
|
|
| I recently purchased a scale with body a fat percentage reading. It seems to work fairly well and give consistent readings. A few years ago these scales were about $200, but now they are about $40-$50.
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/9/2008
Posts: 19,
Visits: 0
|
|
| Thanks for the info. I'll probably look around and see what I can find. sm
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/18/2008
Posts: 5,
Visits: 0
|
|
The most accurate way to measure body fat is hydrostatic weighing (done in water). You can get it done at many large medical campuses. But the most important thing to remember about testing your body fat is to use the same method every time. All methods of measuring body fat have a margin of error, but if you use the same type of measurement, you can develop a baseline so you know whether you are going up or down and by how much.
Online Workouts
Pascale Vandenbroucke
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 10/20/2008
Posts: 13,
Visits: 4
|
|
A fat caliper can help, but it is a guesstimation. The best thing is to have the same person measure you, use the same caliper and always measure in exactly the same spot. Check this site out....www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/bodyfatcalipers.html . good luck!
ERIN COOGAN, C.P.T.
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/1/2009
Posts: 8,
Visits: 0
|
|
| BIA scale....online ranging from $35-over$100 Most of them like mine save all of your info if you want it to and tracks your progress/trends. Great buy and you don't have to worry about the calipers and measuring the exact same spot.
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 7/8/2009
Posts: 6,
Visits: 0
|
|
Unless you have some compelling need to know the value exactly, any method you can use regularly and consistently is worthwhile.
The variance in each method doesn't really matter if you're using the same method in the same way, as the overall trend in your body fat percentage will be seen.
|
|
|
|
