How to Determine Body Density

Determine your body density by taking a series of measurements and doing a little math. With these measurements and an online body density calculator, you can find your percentage of body fat. The most efficient way to measure your body density is by hydrostatic weighing, which compares your weight on land with your weight in water. However, if you do not have access to an underwater weighing tank, using a caliper to take your own skin-fold measurements is your best bet.

Instructions

• 1

  Use your skin-fold caliper to get a diagonal pinch one-third of the way between your armpit and nipple. Write down the measurement.

• 2

  Use the skin-fold caliper to get a vertical pinch roughly halfway between the top of your thigh and knee, another pinch 1 inch from your belly button and another pinch on your triceps between your shoulder and elbow. Write these measurements down.

• 3

  Ask a friend to administer a diagonal pinch in the area directly below one of your shoulder blades, known as your subscapular. Write down the measurement.

• 4

  Obtain a midaxillary measurement by pinching the caliper in the area of your armpit that is level with your nipple. Finally, get a subprailiac measurement by taking a diagonal pinch just above your hip bone.

• 5

  Plug these numbers into an online body density calculator and click the "Calculate" button to get your body density percentage.