US Navy Body Fat Calculator - JP Fitness Forums

missjane · 04-09-2008, 08:40 AM

Online Body Fat Percentage Calculator

I thought this was pretty close to where I think I am at right now. Since I really don't trust any BF measurements, other than under water, I tend to compare them all!

onepack · 04-09-2008, 08:49 AM

Hey MJ, thanks for posting this. How accurate do you think it its? Or do you just use it to track changes?

missjane · 04-09-2008, 08:52 AM

I just do it for kicks. Until I get "dunked", I don't know if anything is completely accurate. I trend a number of different methods but don't put too much stock into any of it. I just found this calculator and it seemed to mirror what I "think" my BF% is right now.

I do my Omron every morning it's all over the place, though trending down.

I've been measured with calipers by myself and by several others, all with wildly different readings.

So, who knows!

realcdn · 04-09-2008, 08:57 AM

Not sure that it's accurate for me though.

(As much as I weigh, I don't think I only have 83lbs LBM)

There's a center about 2 hours away from here that does body comp in an air chamber (rather than water). It's tempting, but I decided I likely can't afford it right now.

Body Comp: Weight Analysis Centre

LaraT · 04-09-2008, 09:02 AM

I have been thinking of doing that Bod Pod. One of the universities in town does it for $45. Supposed to be comparable to the underwater method in accuracy but what I have read is that DEXA is now considered the "gold standard".

SpacecityPaula · 04-09-2008, 09:02 AM

The Navy Calculator is wildly inaccurate.

missjane · 04-09-2008, 09:07 AM

Ha! Well, since it came to the same as the Omron and within 1% of the last caliper reading, I guess they all really are inaccurate!

I'm going to see if there is a bodpod around me. I'm frightened to be dunked!

missjane · 04-09-2008, 09:12 AM

Yeah! Found out they have a Bod Pod right down the road from me at the local university for 25 bucks!

sharsell119 · 04-09-2008, 10:59 AM

Wow... this gave me exactly what the handheld omron gave me a few days ago. Well... almost. The handheld said 21.0% and this thing said 21.1%.

missjane · 04-09-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharsell119

Wow... this gave me exactly what the handheld omron gave me a few days ago. Well... almost. The handheld said 21.0% and this thing said 21.1%.

Same for me....within 2/10 of a percentage point.

maggieandmommy · 04-09-2008, 11:33 AM

How did you guys find out where to find the Bod Pod? I'd like to give that a try!

missjane · 04-09-2008, 11:42 AM

I did a google search for "Bod Pod" and my city.

rixatrix · 04-09-2008, 11:49 AM

I think all methods of measuring are based on averages, so keep that in mind. I remember reading that for instance, African Americans have actually been read as negative BF% because they tend to have more muscle mass and denser bones. Anything based on averages is only going to be as good as the data that goes into it, and how close to the median you are. As long as you're trending down, you're on the right track.

Here's another calculator and a chart to illustrate what I mean:

Home Body Fat Test

missjane · 04-09-2008, 12:04 PM

That one has me 1% higher than the Navy and the Omron and the calipers.

frogguruami · 04-09-2008, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rixatrix

Here's another calculator and a chart to illustrate what I mean:

Home Body Fat Test

I was looking for something that gave me a figure that was relatively close to where I thought I was and this one is it. I'm really only interested in trends but the Runner's World calculator put me at 28% which I knew was way too low and the Navy one put me at 53% which I was hoping was way too high. LOL This one put me at 41%. I was expecting something in the mid to upper 30s so I think I will measure trends with this one for a while. Thanks for the link. Maybe someday they will be someone out here in the boonies that can measure bodyfat a reliable way! I'm not holding my breath!

missjane · 04-09-2008, 12:18 PM

OK, I just emailed the university for my Bod Pod appointment. I'll let you guys know how close all of these other methods (online calculators, omron, calipers) are once I get this one done. I think maybe I'll do it once every 6-8 weeks.

rixatrix · 04-09-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missjane

That one has me 1% higher than the Navy and the Omron and the calipers.

Oops, sorry. I liked that one because it has me lower than the Navy one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by frogguruami

I was looking for something that gave me a figure that was relatively close to where I thought I was and this one is it. I'm really only interested in trends but the Runner's World calculator put me at 28% which I knew was way too low and the Navy one put me at 53% which I was hoping was way too high. LOL This one put me at 41%. I was expecting something in the mid to upper 30s so I think I will measure trends with this one for a while. Thanks for the link. Maybe someday they will be someone out here in the boonies that can measure bodyfat a reliable way! I'm not holding my breath!

53% does seem really high. The Navy one put me 10% higher than the other one. The second one is closer to my caliper readings.

Quote:

Originally Posted by missjane

OK, I just emailed the university for my Bod Pod appointment. I'll let you guys know how close all of these other methods (online calculators, omron, calipers) are once I get this one done. I think maybe I'll do it once every 6-8 weeks.

Jane, that's the one where you sit in a little contained thing, right? How does it work?