Body Fat
- Thread starter Moonbeam3
- Start date
Three main ways to measure body fat are calipers, bio-impedence or hand held devices and hydrostatic testing. Hydrostatic testing can be done at universities or hospitals but are expensive.
Caliper and hand held devices are more common for most folks. Both have a margin of error of about 3-4%. Calipers are better if someone else take the measurements for you AND they are trained professionals. Caliper measurements need to be taken in at LEAST three areas (usually belly, thigh and triceps). Then average them all out and get an overall number.
Handheld devices are easy to do alone. It takes about 7 seconds for a reading to come back. The reading can vary depending on your body's hydration levels, sodium levels, temperature, and a host of other things.
Overall the actual number is not as important as the range you are in. You also want the overall pattern of your body fat % to decrease until you are at healthy levels.
Calipers and hand held devices will both give you an estimate to as to how much body fat you actually have.
Here are ranges of body fat levels:
For Women
Essential Fat= 10-12%
Athletes= 14-20%
Fitness= 21-24%
Acceptable= 25-31%
Obese= 32% plus
____________________________________________
For Men
Essential Fat= 2-4%
Athletes= 6-13%
Fitness= 14-17%
Acceptable= 18-25%
Obese= 25% plus
*These numbers are according to The American Council on Exercise
Caliper and hand held devices are more common for most folks. Both have a margin of error of about 3-4%. Calipers are better if someone else take the measurements for you AND they are trained professionals. Caliper measurements need to be taken in at LEAST three areas (usually belly, thigh and triceps). Then average them all out and get an overall number.
Handheld devices are easy to do alone. It takes about 7 seconds for a reading to come back. The reading can vary depending on your body's hydration levels, sodium levels, temperature, and a host of other things.
Overall the actual number is not as important as the range you are in. You also want the overall pattern of your body fat % to decrease until you are at healthy levels.
Calipers and hand held devices will both give you an estimate to as to how much body fat you actually have.
Here are ranges of body fat levels:
For Women
Essential Fat= 10-12%
Athletes= 14-20%
Fitness= 21-24%
Acceptable= 25-31%
Obese= 32% plus
____________________________________________
For Men
Essential Fat= 2-4%
Athletes= 6-13%
Fitness= 14-17%
Acceptable= 18-25%
Obese= 25% plus
*These numbers are according to The American Council on Exercise
Thanks for the info. I'll see if someone at my gym can give me an answer. I just would like a general idea. I'd like to be around 20% and I think I'm close, I'm thinking I'm about 25% (according to one on the internet where I just plugged in my age height and two measurements)which isn't too bad but there definitely room for improvement.
Suit yourself lol..
Its just easier to do it yourself when you wake up. Takes about 5 mins max.
Another thing you could try is getting it tested professionally then doing it yourself to see how close you came.
Either way, good for you wanting to track BF. Its a good indicator of whether you are being productive or counterproductive with your dieting and exercising.
Its just easier to do it yourself when you wake up. Takes about 5 mins max.
Another thing you could try is getting it tested professionally then doing it yourself to see how close you came.
Either way, good for you wanting to track BF. Its a good indicator of whether you are being productive or counterproductive with your dieting and exercising.