body fat measurements

[BigB13]

what are you all using to measure your body fat %? I have a Tanita scale, wondering how accurate it is... anyone have one of these scales? or suggest a more accurate method. thanks*******
www.tanita.com/BodyFatOverview.shtml

[GSOgymrat]

I have a Tanita bodyfat scale and it says my bodyfat is currently 19%. Somehow I think it's a tad off.

[farsscf]

I don't think those are real accurate. And you don't look like 19% to me. According to my measurements I am 21%, you look considerably less.

[SumthinOrNuthin]

Tanita scales are notoriously inaccurate, and the more mucle you have, the more inaccurate they are.

I use calipers, badly - I'm not very good at taking the measurements but will keep practising

[goddessamazon]

Where do you go to get your body fat measured by profeesionals? I think they dump you in a tank of water while you hold your breath and stuff.

Anyone know what I'm talking about? BigB13 please don't think I'm hijacking your thread. I wanted to ask this for weeks now and since you brought up the Tanita scale I thought I would sneak my question in here.

[bodyhard]

I have it checked in my gym. I go there before eating anything he puts this thing with jelly on it, on my finger, toe and chest and hooks me up to a machine, it tells you your weight, LBM and bf%

[DouglassDoubles]

I don't know how accurate this is, but I go here to get mine.....http://www.brianmac.demon.co.uk/fatcent.htm#lbm

[ScubaDave]

Here's a reply I wrote earlier on the same subject - the question was hydrostatic testing (the one where they dump you in water)...as an aside, electro-impedence devices are usually the worst estimators of bodyfat.

...it may be interesting to have it (hydrostatic testing) done as an intellectual exercise, but consider the accuracy versus calipers. If done properly, calipers are generally accurate to +/- 3.0%. If done properly, hydrostatic testing is accurate to +/- 1.5%. So, you may be 1.5% further off, but you have a cheap, highly repeatable form of measurement versus hydrostatic testing. As others have stated, it's the delta that's really important.

There's a few more details on methods and their accuracy at the following link:

http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwfit/bodycomp.html

Good luck!

Dave

[goddessamazon]

Originally Posted by ScubaDave

Here's a reply I wrote earlier on the same subject - the question was hydrostatic testing (the one where they dump you in water)...as an aside, electro-impedence devices are usually the worst estimators of bodyfat.

...it may be interesting to have it (hydrostatic testing) done as an intellectual exercise, but consider the accuracy versus calipers. If done properly, calipers are generally accurate to +/- 3.0%. If done properly, hydrostatic testing is accurate to +/- 1.5%. So, you may be 1.5% further off, but you have a cheap, highly repeatable form of measurement versus hydrostatic testing. As others have stated, it's the delta that's really important.

There's a few more details on methods and their accuracy at the following link:

http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwfit/bodycomp.html

Good luck!

Dave

Cool! Thanks

[-Leonidas-]

I have a hand held medisana unit and it sucks. I've lost about 16 lbs since March and my BF according to this thing has only gone down 4%. My weight is 1791bs right now and my BF is 20.4% - there is something wrong with the math - if I want to get to 10% bf I would need to loose another 40lbs.

I did have my BF measured about 3 weeks ago by my PT on a scale that gives 2 measures - one was around 20% and the other came in at 13% - don't know why there are 2 numbers. But I estimate at the moment I am around 12% - not very accurate I know but I think its closer than anything else. I do have calipers but I'm not very good with them -need to practice I guess.

The last time this came up basically it came down to what you see in the mirror - which works for me - I finally have 6 pack starting to show!

[ServoScanMan]

The gym uses a caliper to measure skin fold at three places. Tricep, Ab and Thigh. I have a hard time believing the method is very accurate.

[Heatmiser]

Originally Posted by GSOgymrat

I have a Tanita bodyfat scale and it says my bodyfat is currently 19%. Somehow I think it's a tad off.

Based on your latest pics you are in the single digits

[Hibiscus09]

My bodyfat scale tells me anywhere from 35 to 40% bodyfat. I just use it to weigh myself.

I bought a Lange caliper recently and am going to get my hubby to start taking my bodyfat once every couple of weeks. Practice will, hopefully, make almost perfect. I suppose it takes a little while to become consistent with pinching technique.

I suppose a seven site measure would be more accurate than a three site measure:

http://www.exrx.net/Testing/BodyCompSites.html

[BigB13]

I guess this is good... At least I don't feel like I'm the only one having problems with this... Maybe the scale isn't an accurate measurement, but it's a good "point of reference". Hopefully it will at least tell me when I'm heading in the right direction....(or the other way)****

[TDetroit]

Get the caliper here on bb.com. it is the best home measurement tool. Takes just a little getting used to.

The scales are crappy. I bought one 2 days after having it done proffessionally. Professional says 14.3%, scale says 22%. What do you think. Bought a caliper, guess what, same as professional.

For 8 bucks you can't beat it.
But it won't give you 100% accurate, because it checks milimeters versus a chart, the chart goes in increments of 2%, so there is a little guessitmating the real number, but at least you'll be real close.

[ladarling]

I use a digital fat caliper and take my body fat % once a week. Mine has been pretty accurate over the years!!

[kitebean]

Originally Posted by Hibiscus09

My bodyfat scale tells me anywhere from 35 to 40% bodyfat.

Mine is the other way around, my tanita has me at anywhere from 6-7% LOWER than I actually am....

[m1k3g0rd]

Originally Posted by enigma60

My weight is 1791bs right now and my BF is 20.4% - there is something wrong with the math -

Man! 1,791 lbs and 20% BF? You must be taking that new super creatine stack!
If you can cut the BF down to <15% you'll be looking good.

:--)

[pnycar69]

Originally Posted by DouglassDoubles

I don't know how accurate this is, but I go here to get mine.....http://www.brianmac.demon.co.uk/fatcent.htm#lbm

That calculator is bogus. It says I am 41% bodyfat. I know I am around 17% right now from having it done by my trainer.

There is no way I could lose 60 lbs. It says I have lean bodymass of 128lbs.

[dpready]

The ones that you have to stand on barefoot or hold in your hands estimate your bf%, and most of the time are off. Some of them you put your height, weight, age, sex and it comes up with the average bf% of someone that old that is that size. To get a better idea I would recommend body calipers, which still aren't 100% accurate but will give you a better idea if you dont want to spend money on a body displacement machine that you have to lay in for the most accurate reading.

[Sluggeaux]

I don't bother with BF at all. Nor do I even own a scale anymore. My personal satisfaction is purely belt size/waist measurements going down, and upper arm, forarm, shoulder, chest, thigh, and calf tape measurements going up. It's all about how I look at myself in the mirror now compared to before, and working to make the tape measurements i want to increase go up, and the one I want to go down to continue to go down.

The weight scale isn't very good indicator because you can (and if you are pumping iron, and eating right) will go up even though your BF will decrease.

The last scale I had kept showing my BF increasing, even after my belt size had gone down 2 sizes, my waist measurements had gone down by 4" and all the rest of my measurements had gone up.. just looking in the mirror I knew there was no way possible that my BF had increased.

Haven't really tried the calipers.. happy enough just focusing on the measurements.

[asmolenski]

Its funny how everyone has an opinion about body fat analysis - it is a very touchy subject for some I have found! I have experience with body measurements using various formulas, calipers, tanita scales, hydrostatic testing, and lately dexascan. While I agree that the "mirror test" is the most important - ie do you like what you see.. - I find that most people underestimate their body fat by about 4% and some people are just clueless.

Body fat analysis gives me a reality check when it comes to my contest preparation - when you know exactly what your body composition is and you are able to follow changes over periods of time then you can make adjustments to your diet, cardio etc and also be able to plan out your program more accurately rather than just hoping that you will look good enough by a certain date etc.

I had a hydrostatic test done 2 months ago and then a dexascan done last week. Both times my tanita scale was within 1-2% of the "gold standard' test - I found that if I input the required data like age, height and use the "athlete mode" and then weigh myself first thing in the morning with an empty bladder then the tanita is pretty close - however later in the day and after eating, exercise etc then it usually underestimates body fat by 3-4%. Between body composition testing I just follow my waist measurment and how my pants feel to guage whether I am losing or gaining body fat.

[DNG]

Originally Posted by DouglassDoubles

I don't know how accurate this is, but I go here to get mine.....http://www.brianmac.demon.co.uk/fatcent.htm#lbm

I just tried that. It calculates my BF% at 32.6%

By all the other measurements, I'm between 14% and 15%



I'd avoid it...

[partsRheavy]

What do you guys think about the accuracy of the BodPod?

http://www.bodpod.com/pdf/Certified%...st%20Sites.pdf

[freebirdmac]

You guys do realize that this thread is from a year ago.

[asmolenski]

That is funny - I guess some things just wont die lol!

Bodpod is about the same as hydrostatic testing.

[rusrious]

Im trying to go purchased something today.. Leaving in 15 minutes, where do I go for something that is pretty good est.?

[FitJeff0065]

My Tanita scale says 37%. My handheld tanita says 5%. My calipers say 12.5%. Tanita doesn't work for those with muscles, they are designed for cardio bunnies.

[chodan9]

Originally Posted by GSOgymrat

I have a Tanita bodyfat scale and it says my bodyfat is currently 19%. Somehow I think it's a tad off.

LOL
yeah
I think your right!

[JAGCPT]

Originally Posted by asmolenski

Its funny how everyone has an opinion about body fat analysis - it is a very touchy subject for some I have found! I have experience with body measurements using various formulas, calipers, tanita scales, hydrostatic testing, and lately dexascan. While I agree that the "mirror test" is the most important - ie do you like what you see.. - I find that most people underestimate their body fat by about 4% and some people are just clueless.

Body fat analysis gives me a reality check when it comes to my contest preparation - when you know exactly what your body composition is and you are able to follow changes over periods of time then you can make adjustments to your diet, cardio etc and also be able to plan out your program more accurately rather than just hoping that you will look good enough by a certain date etc.

I had a hydrostatic test done 2 months ago and then a dexascan done last week. Both times my tanita scale was within 1-2% of the "gold standard' test - I found that if I input the required data like age, height and use the "athlete mode" and then weigh myself first thing in the morning with an empty bladder then the tanita is pretty close - however later in the day and after eating, exercise etc then it usually underestimates body fat by 3-4%. Between body composition testing I just follow my waist measurment and how my pants feel to guage whether I am losing or gaining body fat.

I think the key for people who lift weights is using a Tanita scale that has the athlete mode. Using regular mode or just a standard scale without an athlete mode seems to always measure way too high. I'm not exactly an athlete, but I lift weights regularly and I've always found the Tanita scales with an athlete mode to be pretty accurate for me. They're at least good for tracking progress.