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There are several ways to do this. The first and most acurate way is hydrostatic weighing (underwater weighing) is the most accurate way to calculate body fat. The way this works is: "Your examiner first calculates your body density by measuring the amount of water you displace when you immerse yourself in water. Then a formula is used to calculate body fat based on your body density."
The second (and the method most people here use) is skinfold calipers. Becareful though, it is easy to mess up and get a wrong reading...
Actually hydrostatic weighing is no longer the best and most accurate method. There are a couple of other methods that are similar to getting an MRI (bod pod I think) that can tell you down to the 10th of a gram how much bf you have. It is a good method though... Still more accurate than calipers.
Only problem with calipers is that you need to find an EXPERIENCED tester. This can vary a lot if taken by someone who does not know what they are doing.
My prefered method at the moment is the OMRON handheld device, which is close to the accuracy of calipers, but digital and probably a little more reliable. It uses a method called bio-impedence, although it is not complete bioimpedence, which requires electrodes placed in several places on the body, where the scales only use two points of contact.
Bio-impedence means that a mild electrical current is fed through your body, and difference types of tissue have different resistance to electricity (just like a heating element has high resistance, so it just heats up instead of conducting the current. Bone has a different resistance than muscle or fat. It collects the ratios of these different "resistances" and dumps them into a formula, much like the algorhythm that we use to calculate body with calipers (using your age, sex, height, weight), and it makes a close guess to your bodyfat based on averages. The more advanced systems account for athletically built bodies.
I tested a new system at the ACSM summit last week and was not impressed with it compared to my OMRON or a basic Tanita scale.
Body fat measurement is the devil. I almost said "the mirror and your abs are the best ways" then I was like, oh yeah genetics. I try about three different methods and them average them all out for safe measure usually.
I'll use a tanita scale, fat track 2 calipers, and measuring tape at mybodycomp.com. The measuring tape reading is always higher for mine. The calipers and tanita are always exactly the same.
I thought that the BodPod and hydrostatic testing bred the same results, thanks for clearing things up for me JP. The BodPod looks kind of scary, what happens if the door jams (lol).
We have a bodpod. IMO you have to take the results with a grain of salt as it has 2 results (lean body mass\fat mass). Your hydration levels can through it off quite a bit.
I know a fella that did it and got measured two weeks apart. He lost 4 pound in the two weeks and the pod claimed that he gained 8lbs of muscle. It would blow my MIND if ANYONE gained 8lbs of muscle in 2 weeks natural or juiced or whatever.
Over time though it seems to be a great (and overall accurate) way to check progress. Just don't get too excited about that 1st to 2nd reading!
i think this is the omron jp is referring too but not sure check this link out its not a bad price less than 40 bucks they have it at my gym and it was pretty close to the skinfold calipers im planning on getting one for myself http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=3342463
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JP - I have used that hand held thingy...and I'm real skeptical of it's results. My weight has stayed the same over the last 6 months..173 pounds...and I have grabbed that BF checker about 10 times...and never the same results...ranging from 17% to 27% BF. Was 24% this morning...I don't think I wanna play with it anymore.
Originally posted by Jimbo: JP - I have used that hand held thingy...and I'm real skeptical of it's results. My weight has stayed the same over the last 6 months..173 pounds...and I have grabbed that BF checker about 10 times...and never the same results...ranging from 17% to 27% BF. Was 24% this morning...I don't think I wanna play with it anymore.
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Originally posted by BadDog: O.K. so I used that hand held thing last summer at my gym and got a body fat reading of 16.8%.
Had trainer do it with I want to say electronic calipers (did skin folds in four or five places and it beeped) two weeks ago and he gave me 23.5%.
Did my mybodycomp.com this past week and got 21.8%.
As a side note my body has not changed a great deal from last summer. Feel like I might even have less body fat but not sure.
Was going to use body fat % as a goal but don't trust it. Bottom line is confusion . I think I'll use the mirror.
Don't let an electronical piece of equipment make or break you boys. You're dealing with the human body here and everyone's is drastically different from each others. Always above all else, go by the mirror and tape measure. Your waist can hypertrophy with heavy ab work and/or heavy squats and deadlifts though, thats when the mirror comes in. Just flow with it, the differences you see in the mirror and in your old clothes are some of the most concrete evidence you can get. If you don't see the results there, adjust your training methods, caloric intake, nutrient split, etc. Hang in there, ya'll are doin fine.
The DEXA scan is the most accurate method for measuring body fat. actually I take that back, dissection is the most accurate method, but most people would consider that impractical.
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. I think I'll use the mirror.
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