How to Measure Body Fat Using the Wrist

Being aware of your body fat percentage is important when trying to achieve a healthy body type. Whether you are trying to lose weight or maintain your current weight, it is a useful indicator against which to measure your progress. Wrist circumference is just one factor to consider when calculating your body fat percentage. You will also need to know your waist, hip and arm measurements as well as your weight. Dave Draper, fitness expert and author of many specialist books including "Weight Loss Straight Talk" and "Your Body Revival," has tailored this system for women to calculate their body fat.

Things You'll Need

• Scale
• Pencil
• Paper
• Tape measure
• Calculator

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Instructions

• 1

  Weigh yourself on a scale. Make a note of your weight on a piece of paper.

• 2

  Measure your wrist at its narrowest point using a tape measure. Write this figure down (in inches) on a piece of paper. You will need this figure for your calculations.

• 3

  Measure your hips, forearms and waist. Hips and forearms should be measured at their widest points. Write these figures down on paper.

• 4

  Use the calculator to multiply your weight by 0.732, then add add 8.987 to this number. This is result 1. Write down this number and all subsequent results on paper. For result 2, divide your wrist measurement by 3.14. For result 3, multiply your waist measurement by 0.157. For result 4, multiply the circumference of your hips by 0.249. For result 5, multiply your forearm measurement by 0.434.

• 5

  Add result 1 and result 2. This number becomes result 6. Result 6 minus result 3 is now result 7. Result 7 minus result 4 becomes result 8. Add results 8 and 5 and write this number down. This is your lean body mass. Take your lean body mass away from your total weight and multiply the answer by 100. Divide this number by your body weight and you have your body fat percentage.