How to Measure Body Fat Content

Measuring your body fat can be done in several ways, with some techniques being more accurate and/or costly than others. It is important that you have an estimate of your fat content, to be healthy and get in shape.

Things You'll Need

• Skin fold calipers

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Instructions

• 1

  Get a DEXA scan of your body. This is the most expensive, but also most accurate, method for finding out your body fat. Most of the public do not have access to such a device, so this is mainly used by athletes. You can speak to your doctor about having this method performed.

• 2

  Get weighed underwater. This is another expensive strategy where your weight outside of the water and that inside is the water is compared. This is another procedure mainly used on athletes. The reason being is the equipment used in this process is very costly to own and operate. It's unlikely you'd find a place that will do this at an affordable price.

• 3

  Get a skin fold measurement. This is one of the most practical ways for someone to check body fat content. This technique is done by special calibers that gently pinch certain areas of the body, and can give you a somewhat accurate reading of your body fat content. You can have these measurements done in most gyms. You can choose to purchase the calipers yourself, but the readings are more reliable when performed by a certified health instructor.

Skin fold measurements at home

• 4

  If you choose to do your own skin fold measurements, start by grasping a section of your skin/fat with your index finger and thumb and pull it away from your body. Make sure the skin is vertical so the calipers will fit well on it.

• 5

  With your other hand, place the caliper on the drawn skin, sitting it level with the rest of the skin in that location. An accurate reading will be displayed on the calipers within 2-3 seconds. Perform the measurement at least twice at each location, and take the average to find the closest estimate.

• 6

  Learn the best locations for performing skin fold locations. For men, an inch above the right nipple, one inch to the right of the naval, and on the front of the thigh halfway between the knee and hip are ideal places. For women, halfway between the shoulder and elbow on the back of the arm, approximately 2 inches to the right of the belly button, and halfway between the knee and hip on the front of the thigh are recommended.

• 7

  Total the three measurements from your body. Use the total and your age to find your body fat content on a body composition chart (See Resources Below).