Checking Bodyfat with calipers

[LLLLern]

ok I would like to hear from anyone


I bought a pair and was going to do a 3 point check were is the best 3 places to check for a good BodyFat % ???

[transXisomer]

Originally Posted by llllern

ok I would like to hear from anyone


I bought a pair and was going to do a 3 point check were is the best 3 places to check for a good BodyFat % ???

We are taught at my school (Exercise Physiology major) to do 7 point test, heres how to do it and the formula below, if its confusing any let me know.

We use 7 different sites for measurements, the chest, abdominal, triceps, subscapular, suprailiac, thigh and the midaxillary and then plug the numbers into different equations, depends on the persons gender and race. Tons of ways to do it, ill list the most common below:

Siri %Fat = (4.950/Db-4.500)x100

You get Db (body density) from this equation, there are many but ill list the most commonly used one, other ones use different sites, if you are interested in them all I will list them all, no problem at all.

Male (M-1) (Chest, Abdomen, Thigh)
Db = 1.10938 - .0008267 (Sum of 3 above) + .0000016 (Sum of 3)2 (Squared) - .000257(Age)

Heres how you do skin fold Measurements:

The right side of the body is where all measurements should be taken. The caliper should be 1cm away from the thumb and index finger, perpendicular to the fold. The pinch should be maintained for about 1-2 seconds before reading to insure that muscle is not included. There are seven sites in which skin folds are taken. The chest, which is a diagonal fold 1/2 the distance between the anterior axillary line and the nipple for men and 1/3 the distance for women. The midaxilla, which is a vertical fold on the midaxillary lone at the level of the xiphoid process. The triceps, which is a vertical fold on the posterior midline halfway between the acromion and colcannon processes. The sub scapula, which is a diagonal fold 1-2 cm below the inferior angle of the scapula. The abdomen, which is a vertical fold 2 cm to the right side of the umbilicus. The suprailiac, which is a diagonal fold in line with the natural abgle of the iliac crest taken in the anterior axillary lone immediately superior to the iliac crest. The thigh, which is a vertical fold on the anterior midline of the thigh midway between the proximal border of the patella and the hip. Take duplicate measurements at each site and retest if duplicate measurements are not within 1-2 mm. Also, rotate through measurement sites or allow time for skin to regain normal texture and thickness.

[growstrong]

Great post Trans! I never really attempted this because i always thought there was to much variation dependent upon where you do it. This solves the problem! Great post now i need to go get me a caliper!

[transXisomer]

Originally Posted by growstrong

Great post Trans! I never really attempted this because i always thought there was to much variation dependent upon where you do it. This solves the problem! Great post now i need to go get me a caliper!

Thanks man, if your really want a good long term investment I would recommend the Lange calipers, though they around $200 bucks they cheapy ones we had in the performance lab often times get crappy quick and sometimes don't measure accurately. But if you do get cheap ones just make sure you follow the guidelines above and you should get a decent BF% from plugging the numbers into the formula above.

If anyone has trouble with the formula above im more than willing to do the calculations for anyone who wants their BF% calculated. All I need is your 7-point caliper measurements.

[LLLLern]

thanks but I dont know half of those areas by the name you used


lol

1-chest area
2-ab area
3-thigh area

I was going to add all them up and divide them by 3 to be basic will that work?
ect would help

[transXisomer]

Originally Posted by llllern

thanks but I dont know half of those areas by the name you used


lol

chest area
ab area
thigh area

I was going to add all them up and divide them by 7 to be basic will that work?
ect would help

I have never learned that way so its up to you, hmm I will see what I can do, maybe get some pics up of the 7-point areas to help you understand.

[growstrong]

Great info guys!

[LLLLern]

Originally Posted by transXisomer

I have never learned that way so its up to you, hmm I will see what I can do, maybe get some pics up of the 7-point areas to help you understand.

thanks man sorry that I am so basic thanks again bro

[lionelxxl]

Hey illern, this is a site i used to measure my bf% with calipers. Hope it helps.

http://www.linear-software.com/online.html
http://www.linear-software.com/malesites.html

[transXisomer]

Originally Posted by lionelxxl

Hey illern, this is a site i used to measure my bf% with calipers. Hope it helps.

http://www.linear-software.com/online.html
http://www.linear-software.com/malesites.html

Ah that link has a perfect pic for the seven sites, good find lionel!

If you want me to do the calculations just get me those seven sites for it I listed, and you can either list it in this thread of PM me the measurements, or you can do the calculator on the site, not sure how accurate it is though.