Determining BF %
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StoneColdNTO
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Skinfold Measurements... The Most Economical Way To Calculate Body Fat?
At last we've come to the first truly reliable technique used to calculate body fat percentage! Along with Body fat scales (we'll get to those in a minute) body fat calipers are just about the most cost effective way to calculate body fat. Of course it depends on...
Whether you buy cheap calipers! So, what are the advantages to using skin fold calipers?
+ Unlike Height-Weight tables and BMI they actually calculate body fat percentage!
+ They are very easy to use. The hardest part is finding the right locations to pinch!
+ They are relatively inexpensive and once you have a set they should last a lifetime.
+ They can be used to calculate body fat in the privacy of your own home.
+ They are portable. You can test others in the most convenient place for them.
+ Used correctly they are an accurate and reliable way to calculate body fat.
+ It can be a quick way to calcualte body fat percentages for a large number of people in a short space of time.
Now for the disadvantages...
- For accurate results an experienced examiner is needed... it really is hard to find the precise locations!
- There are different equations used for different people to calculate body fat percentage from skinfolds. Choosing the wrong equation has a big effect!
- It is very difficult to test yourself. You may have to ask a friend or family member and this is when skinfold testing becomes unreliable.
- Really cheap calipers won't stay very accurate for long. They aren't as accurate as the more expensive ones to start with.
Don't let these downsides put you off. There is a lot you can do to control the accuracy of skinfold testing. You can even buy a great set of calipers that allow you to test yourself.
Next up is...
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Bioeletrical Impedance Analysis... BIA For Short
Until recently BIA was expensive, difficult to find and required a skills of a highly trained examiner. Not anymore. Body fat scales have appeared on the market and BIA is the technology they use to calculate body fat in seconds.
Their advantages are almost identical to skinfold calipers. As for disadvantages...
- The amount of water in your body, your skin temperature and recent physical activity can all adversely affect the results.
- As with calipers there are different equations used to calculate body fat from your body density. Unfortunately you are stuck with the equation the manufacturers programmed in and it might not be the most one appropriate for you.
Again don't let these put you off. It is probably easier to control the reliability of body fat scales than it is for calipers. For tons of great information on body fat scales check out the body fat scales article
OK, we're just about finished. Last and certainly not least is...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hydrostatic Weighing... The gold Standard?
If it's accuracy you're after, hydrostatic or underwater weighing is considered the 'gold standard'. The only way to calculate body fat more accurately is through...
Dissection! Ouch.
Hydrostatic weighing is also a highly repeatable way to calculate body fat. This simply means that your body composition is the only variable that affects the results. Sounds obvious I know. But factors such as the amount of fluid in your body, different examiners and skin temperature can all adversely affect the results of other tests.
Here's the downside. It can be an expensive, time consuming way to calculate body fat, not to mention difficult to find. A local University may be your best bet. However some larger gyms may have a hydrostatic weighing tank or a Bod Pod (mentioned below).
How does hydrostatic weighing calculate body fat exactly? It is based on Archimede's Principle. The examiner first calculates your body density. How?
By simply measuring the amount of water you displace when you first enter the tank. Then she uses a specific equation to calculate body fat based on your body density.
So to wrap up what's the best way to calculate body fat? Great question!
If your serious about monitoring your health and body fat don't bother with - Height to Weight tables, BMI and girth measurements. Hydrostatic weighing is the most accurate way to calculate body fat if it's an option for you. The best methods to calculate body fat of overall are...
Body fat scales or measuring skinfolds with a set of Skinfold calipers.
At last we've come to the first truly reliable technique used to calculate body fat percentage! Along with Body fat scales (we'll get to those in a minute) body fat calipers are just about the most cost effective way to calculate body fat. Of course it depends on...
Whether you buy cheap calipers! So, what are the advantages to using skin fold calipers?
+ Unlike Height-Weight tables and BMI they actually calculate body fat percentage!
+ They are very easy to use. The hardest part is finding the right locations to pinch!
+ They are relatively inexpensive and once you have a set they should last a lifetime.
+ They can be used to calculate body fat in the privacy of your own home.
+ They are portable. You can test others in the most convenient place for them.
+ Used correctly they are an accurate and reliable way to calculate body fat.
+ It can be a quick way to calcualte body fat percentages for a large number of people in a short space of time.
Now for the disadvantages...
- For accurate results an experienced examiner is needed... it really is hard to find the precise locations!
- There are different equations used for different people to calculate body fat percentage from skinfolds. Choosing the wrong equation has a big effect!
- It is very difficult to test yourself. You may have to ask a friend or family member and this is when skinfold testing becomes unreliable.
- Really cheap calipers won't stay very accurate for long. They aren't as accurate as the more expensive ones to start with.
Don't let these downsides put you off. There is a lot you can do to control the accuracy of skinfold testing. You can even buy a great set of calipers that allow you to test yourself.
Next up is...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bioeletrical Impedance Analysis... BIA For Short
Until recently BIA was expensive, difficult to find and required a skills of a highly trained examiner. Not anymore. Body fat scales have appeared on the market and BIA is the technology they use to calculate body fat in seconds.
Their advantages are almost identical to skinfold calipers. As for disadvantages...
- The amount of water in your body, your skin temperature and recent physical activity can all adversely affect the results.
- As with calipers there are different equations used to calculate body fat from your body density. Unfortunately you are stuck with the equation the manufacturers programmed in and it might not be the most one appropriate for you.
Again don't let these put you off. It is probably easier to control the reliability of body fat scales than it is for calipers. For tons of great information on body fat scales check out the body fat scales article
OK, we're just about finished. Last and certainly not least is...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hydrostatic Weighing... The gold Standard?
If it's accuracy you're after, hydrostatic or underwater weighing is considered the 'gold standard'. The only way to calculate body fat more accurately is through...
Dissection! Ouch.
Hydrostatic weighing is also a highly repeatable way to calculate body fat. This simply means that your body composition is the only variable that affects the results. Sounds obvious I know. But factors such as the amount of fluid in your body, different examiners and skin temperature can all adversely affect the results of other tests.
Here's the downside. It can be an expensive, time consuming way to calculate body fat, not to mention difficult to find. A local University may be your best bet. However some larger gyms may have a hydrostatic weighing tank or a Bod Pod (mentioned below).
How does hydrostatic weighing calculate body fat exactly? It is based on Archimede's Principle. The examiner first calculates your body density. How?
By simply measuring the amount of water you displace when you first enter the tank. Then she uses a specific equation to calculate body fat based on your body density.
So to wrap up what's the best way to calculate body fat? Great question!
If your serious about monitoring your health and body fat don't bother with - Height to Weight tables, BMI and girth measurements. Hydrostatic weighing is the most accurate way to calculate body fat if it's an option for you. The best methods to calculate body fat of overall are...
Body fat scales or measuring skinfolds with a set of Skinfold calipers.
