Body Fat.....how to measure?

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  Apr 20, 2008 2:58 PM GMT

  Within the last 14 months, I've lost almost 45 pounds, gained muscle, and trimmed down.
  
  I want to know my body fat index. I bought one of those scales that supposed to measure it, but it says that I am 177lbs with 22% body fat. That can't be correct.
  
  My YMCA gym does not offer a service for this, and I would prefer to find the method of measurment that uses a scientific machine, but would settle for the "pinch" anaylis method.
  
  Where do I go to get this?
  
  thanks

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• GQjock
  
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  Apr 20, 2008 3:56 PM GMT

  You can calculate it this way...
  http://www.halls.md/bmi/fat.htm

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  Apr 20, 2008 4:19 PM GMT

  GQjock saidYou can calculate it this way...
  http://www.halls.md/bmi/fat.htm

  
  
  your the best.thanks

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  Apr 21, 2008 12:30 AM GMT

  Not to disagree with a gentleman who looks that good sitting in a lounge chair, but formulas like this can be pretty inaccurate. I just used four different formulas and the results ranged from 20% to 9%.
  
  A much more accurate measure you can do is with a pair of calipers., like these.
  
  And here is an article comparing the accuracy of various methods of measurement.
  
  Have fun.

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  Apr 21, 2008 12:36 AM GMT

  Body mass index is not always accurate. The most accurate way to determine your body fat is hihgly techincal and requires that you're submerged in water. The next best thing is to use skinfold calipers. Get a qualified professional to do it. Those scales you mention aren't very reliable.

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  Apr 21, 2008 1:16 AM GMT

  SDtrainer saidBody mass index is not always accurate. The most accurate way to determine your body fat is hihgly techincal and requires that you're submerged in water. The next best thing is to use skinfold calipers. Get a qualified professional to do it. Those scales you mention aren't very reliable.

  
  
  SD is right, formulas and scales are crap. The only real options are calipers and the dunk tank. Even the dunk tank to me isn't all that helpful by itself, cause it measures overall bodyfat.
  
  I could write a long essay on why the fat detecting scales are complete crap, but I'm too fat and lazy.
  
  Frankly all these techniques pale next to the mirror. I've seen guys with supposedly lower bf % than me and I think "hmmm, why do they still look fatter than me?" The answer is distribution. The total amount is a meaningless statistic, like height or weight.
  
  IMHO, everyone would be a lot less uptight and a lot hotter looking if they threw out their scales and calipers and focused on the mirror and the tape measure.

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  Apr 21, 2008 3:39 PM GMT

  MunchingZombie saidNot to disagree with a gentleman who looks that good sitting in a lounge chair, but formulas like this can be pretty inaccurate. I just used four different formulas and the results ranged from 20% to 9%.
  
  A much more accurate measure you can do is with a pair of calipers., like these.
  
  And here is an article comparing the accuracy of various methods of measurement.
  
  Have fun.

  
  
  Hello Munchingzombie.........I just ordered the calipers.....thank you for the tip man.

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