Body fat % measurement

[AlexanderRakitin]

How accurate do you think the electronic BF % measurers are? I got a reading of 10.4% the other day, but I always gave myself an eye estimate of about 12-14.

Has anybody ever taken the electronic measurement and afterwards obtained a completely different number with calipers?

[Terry Monk]

Absolutely. Depends on your hydration level, who is giving the test, which brand of electronic testers you're using, and about a handful of other variables. Personally, the electronic ones, IMO, are not very accurate. Get yourself a pair of good digital calipers and do the job on your own.

[Charles Staley]

The best technology out there today is ultrasound. I'm actually doing a free teleconference on it later today, at 3pm pacific time. Here's the URL for info:

BodyMetrix by Intelametrix Conference Call April 30 at 3 PM Pacific

Originally Posted by AlexanderRakitin

How accurate do you think the electronic BF % measurers are? I got a reading of 10.4% the other day, but I always gave myself an eye estimate of about 12-14.

Has anybody ever taken the electronic measurement and afterwards obtained a completely different number with calipers?

[Keith S.]

Terry,

I agree with using the calipers yourself, but I still own an OMRON BF Analyzer for when I am just too lazy!

[RacerBill]

You guys actually use calipers on yourself? I found I couldn't get consistent results that way, and Berardi says that you need to have someone else use the calipers on you.

[RobLL]

calipers: I understand the really expert users of calipers rely as much as the visuals of the person they are measuring, as they do the tool. When you think about it, it makes sense. Everyone carries their body fat differently, and who knows how much is carried interally in the viscera where it cannot be measured. I would bet that Alwyn could look at a person and do a pinch test with his fingers, and be more accurate than a typical person at other gyms.

[Terry Monk]

Originally Posted by RobLL

calipers: I understand the really expert users of calipers rely as much as the visuals of the person they are measuring, as they do the tool. When you think about it, it makes sense. Everyone carries their body fat differently, and who knows how much is carried interally in the viscera where it cannot be measured. I would bet that Alwyn could look at a person and do a pinch test with his fingers, and be more accurate than a typical person at other gyms.

Totally agree.

[Tom@foresight]

I would always go with calipers, if given the choice!

TOM

[chickdiver]

Personally, I don't think that any of the "over the counter" methods are all that accurate- I think the best you can do with them is asses upward or downward trends.

Case in point- I have one of the Tanita bodyfat scales- which measure by electrical impedance, and are *supposed* to be pretty good. My scale says my bodyfat percentage is 25.4%, while the calipers weilded by my trainer (who has an MS in exercise science) is 30.1%. Which to believe?

[Keith S.]

Originally Posted by chickdiver

Personally, I don't think that any of the "over the counter" methods are all that accurate- I think the best you can do with them is asses upward or downward trends.

Case in point- I have one of the Tanita bodyfat scales- which measure by electrical imperdance, and are *supposed* to be pretty good. My scale says my bodyfat percentage is 25.4%, while the calipers weilded by my trainer (who has an MS in exercise science) is 30.1%. Which to believe?

Most of those electronic ones say they have a 6% degree of variance. Which means 25.4% could really mean 19.4% or 31.4% or anywhere in between...

[smoddelm]

Originally Posted by Keith S.

Most of those electronic ones say they have a 6% degree of variance. Which means 25.4% could really mean 19.4% or 31.4% or anywhere in between...

Wow -- that would make them pretty useless. Are you sure they mean 6 percentage points, as opposed to 6% (6% of 25% is 1.5%, so if 6% is what they mean, the range would be 23.5% to 26.5%).

[manbearpig]

Originally Posted by Keith S.

Most of those electronic ones say they have a 6% degree of variance. Which means 25.4% could really mean 19.4% or 31.4% or anywhere in between...

6% variance or standard deviation ?