Top 5 Ways Body Fat is Measured
The top five ways to measure body fat:
Body Mass Index (BMI): is the commonly used way to measure for body fat. The calculation to find out your body mass index is:
Height/ weight = ?a
?a/height = ?b
?b X 703 = Your BMI
If you are having trouble with the math there are various free online BMI calculators you can input your figures into while it will compute your BMI for you. A lower BMI under 18.5 indicates being underweight, while a high BMI greater than 40.0 indicates extreme obesity. A normal BMI will be in the range of 18.5 and 24.9.
Skin fold Measurements: to measure body fat using the skin fold measurement method you will need a hand held caliper that exert a standard pressure. The skin and underlying tissues is grasped, shaking to exclude the muscle, gently pinching the skin between the calipers to measure the amount of fat. Skin fold measures are done on 3-7 various body sites.
Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA): once very expensive and used only by trained examiners is now being used more currently. This method is used by measuring electrical signals. These electrical signals pass through fat, water in the body and lean mass. This method is considered more accurate as it is based on the measurement of lean mass instead of an estimate of fat mass.
BOD POD: BOD POD measures how much air displacement takes place as a person sits in a capsule for 20 seconds. Calculations are determined by body density, and then an estimation of body fat is computer.
Hydro-densitometry Weighing: Hydro-densitometry weighing is done by measuring the whole body density by determining the body volume. A person must be weight normally, then immersed in water and weighted again. The body's volume is calculated and then the fat percentage is determined by standard formulas.
Source:
Published by Ambriel Maji
Ambriel has over 5 years of writing experience and currently runs a freelance writing business. She enjoys sharing her experiences in owning a candle & bath and body business, camping, gardening and home imp... View profile
- How to Calculate Body Fat PercentageAre you starting to lose weight? Here is the way to calculate body fat percentage to help you keep track of your progress.
Body Fat PercentagesThere is a lot of talk about body fat percentage measurement in health and fitness circles, but should this be relegated to the realm of theory rather than sought out as a real-...- The Different Tests for Measuring Body FatThe simplest and cheapest way to measure your body fat is the skin fold test. You can purchase a set of calipers for around $20 dollars, and do this test in the privacy of your home.
- Electronic Body Fat Scales - Helping You Stay TrimBody weight is only one indicator of overall body health. Body fat percentage is equally important and combined with weight is a key factor in measuring one's true state of health over time.
- Best Way to Measure Your Body FatWith so many people becoming more health and fitness conscious, it points to the specific concern most people have, and that is their weight. Joining gyms and trying the latest fad diet seems to be an intricate part o...
- Various Ways to Measure Body Fat
- How to Measure Body Fat
- How to Measure Your Body Fat Percentage
- Body Fat Percentage
- Are Scales that Measure Body Fat Accurate?
- The Skinny on Body Fat Testing
- Methods of Measuring Body Fat & Body Composition