How to Measure Body Fat

Exist 4 major body fat measuring methods which include: Hydrostatic Weighing, Skinfold Calipers, Navy Method and Home Body Fat Scales. We will review only 3 commonly used ones.

1) Skinfold Caliper

This is very effective method and often is used by professional athletes and health professionals. It is precise and cost effective but it is recommended that measurements are done by a specialist.

Anyway, you can make measurements by yourself with Accumeasure Calipers which offer accuracy, privacy and availability any time. Just purchase one of these instruments and follow instructions enclosed.

2) Home body fat scales

They measure the proportion of fat to muscle tissue which generates resistance for current. Basically you step on scales, very small electrical current passes up one leg, through your pelvis, and down the other leg. And then fat content is estimated. Easy usage and quite precise measurements.

Some errors are possible though during the test because other factors like electrical waves in the heart, water in your body, your skin temperature have their own currents. Recommendation is to starve for 3-4 hours before the test, and also avoid serious physical activity around 12 hours before the test.

3) Hydrostatic Weighing

This is the most accurate of all body fat calculating methods. Only problem is to find a hydrostatic weighing tank which makes this method available only for specialists having proper equipment.

Principles are quite simple and are based on Archimedes Principle where the amount of water displaced when an object in partially or totally immersed in water is proportional to the weight of that object. You are the object in this case.

Examiner measures the amount of water you displace when you immerse yourself in the tank. This way your body density is calculated and after using special formula he get the measurement of your body fat.

Why do you need to measure you body fat?

Controlling fat gives you control over the weight and your weight loss plan. Knowing how much fat you have you can set your goals more precisely. You can plan your diets more in detail excluding certain products to achieve calorie amounts according to your plan.

Measuring fat gives you full picture of your weight loss progress and “warns” if some adjustments are required.