Hydrostatic weighing and other high tech machines are expensive and almost impossible for a layperson to access. Body mass index is away of measuring body fat thats based on height and weight.
Body Fat Calculator
Body fat measurement techniques. However with the variation in methods comes a fluctuation in accuracy. Calipers are the cheapest easiest and most portable method to measure body fat in specific areas. These measurement techniques can help individuals set baseline values for body composition and goals for later on down the line. A 2012 study in the international journal of obesity found that 29 of people who were normal weight actually had a body fat percentage in the obese range. Youll see this option become more readily available and accessible. There are many different methods for measuring body fat but some are more accurate than others.
A basic way to measure body fat percentage is by using a soft tape measure like the kind youd use for sewing to record measurements of different parts of the body. Skinfold measurements have been used to estimate body fat for over 50 years skinfold calipers measure the thickness of your subcutaneous fat the fat underneath the skin at certain body. The body fat percentage is a measure of fitness level since it is the only body measurement which directly calculates a persons relative body composition without regard to height or weight. There are also hand held devices and scales which measure body fat but these are often inaccurate. Professional assessment can be around 50. Another method is waist to hip ratio which gets determined by the use of a measuring tape.
So it may miss people who look thin. Its one of the oldest methods in the books because its a simple calculation. In this article we describe the range of methods include those that a person can try at home. There are various ways to measure the percentage of body fat and some are more high tech than others. Several brands offer at home devices that scan your body take circumference measurements of different body parts and then track your body fat via a corresponding app. You can pick up a set of calipers for 5 10 online.
If its body fat youre concerned about these probably give the best trade off between cost. The widely used body mass index bmi provides a measure that allows the comparison of the adiposity of individuals of different heights and weights.
Gallery of Body Fat Measurement Techniques
