What's your body fat?

[FameGirl]

Curious to see other women's body fat percentages. What is it, and what method was used to calculate? Also, what is the average bf% most women compete at?

[heidismommy]

I've never been pinched, but according to online measurement plug-ins I'm 16-point-something on average. According to body fat scales I'm higher though, about 18-20 percent. I need to get an accurate reading, though I know the number isn't of much importance.

I just read that female bb's around 6-10% and figure/fitness competitors are around 9-15%. I'm curious to see those who have BTDT.

[gynoid]

37% - DEXA (january 08)
27% - home BF scale
25% - calipers
17% - online tests

I have no doubt that DEXA is the most accurate measurement of my BF (sadly!) - it's the gold standard for measuring BF%.

[biochick]

I measure 21% at the hand held body fat thing they have at my gym. I have not tried any of the other methods.

[cakes45cal]

Well at the gym the machine you hold on to and type in your age weight and so on I think its electrical Impedence, it says 18%, online it said 22% I highly doubt Im 18% Im thinking actually Im somewhere between 22 - 26 who knows, I hear some are very accurate and some are not. Haha

[rayteresa4]

I have Lange Calipers...and have been using them piching clients...going to the bodyforlife website using their calculator to get BF % for clients...however I have yet to find a formula that I can use to create my own spread sheet...does anyone know the formula for this? I pinch the areas as follows:

tricep, chest, shoulder blade, hip, ab and thigh

These combine with age and weight should come out with a percent...then I figure out the lean and fat in lb...anyone have the formula's for this?

[sickonstorm]

im 6 percent bodyfat, i used the digital bodyfat thing. i ma guy

[TankGirl]

My scales tell me i'm 19.3.

I dont have any other means to test, but I'm thinking of getting some Calipers to better record my progress!

[samantha08]

one of those electronic hand held ones told me 15 point something.

[skinny_Waw]

online calculator 8%-10%

[chrissydd]

the hand held at the gym varies me from 12-14% depending on how hydrated i am... i am getting calipers done on Friday first thing in the morning before i eat or do anything along with getting my measurements... that should be more accurate

[SophieM]

Originally Posted by gynoid

37% - DEXA (january 08)
27% - home BF scale
25% - calipers
17% - online tests

I have no doubt that DEXA is the most accurate measurement of my BF (sadly!) - it's the gold standard for measuring BF%.

How much did the DEXA scan cost? I've been thinking about getting one done, not just for BF% but bone mass as I never had it done when I had an eating disorder and I've shrunk since then.

Thanks!

[heidismommy]

Sophie- I've had a DEXA done to check for bone density and if you're getting one for that purpose it's generally covered by insurance. Mine covered it 100% (unfortunately I do have osteopenia). They don't look for body fat results unless you specifically have it done for that and I don't think insurance covers that. I think it's generally around $100 if not covered by insurance.

[JVo]

I did the underwater submersion, which reported 16%. The personal trainer at the gym did a caliper measurement that reported 12%, which made me realize that there can be a big percentage error with that if the person doing the measurement isn't well trained.

[jmccarthey]

Online tape measure calculator said 18.7%, but my scale shows higher (it ranges from 22-27, which I think is pretty high)...shooting for even leaner, more like 14% or so.

[CharliC]

I get measured using Bioelectrical Impedance (BIA) and last time it came out at 6.5%. This seems dangerously low but it's supposedly a very accurate method of calculation so I really don't know....

[rubes00]

The lady who measures me at the gym came up with 18.9% with like a 5 point pinch. My scale says anywhere from like 25-30% which is totally unaccurate as it puts my husband at like 19% and he's at least 12%.

[gynoid]

Originally Posted by SophieM

How much did the DEXA scan cost? I've been thinking about getting one done, not just for BF% but bone mass as I never had it done when I had an eating disorder and I've shrunk since then.

Thanks!

Mine was free because I'm participating in a medical study about bones, so I'm not sure.

The reports you get back from it are extremely interesting and probably worth the cost if you are paying for it though.

I found out my bone mass is slightly higher than normal, which was interesting and dampened the pain of knowing my BF% was so damn high ;-)

[mintesa]

i let someone do the clipping thing last week, and mine is 21%, i did this thing you hold with your hands and there i got 15%. I think 21% is more correct.

[pirouette]

I measured 17.6% by calipers (9sites) about 3months ago

[SophieM]

heidismommy - I don't have any insurance at the moment but thanks for the info. I'm kind of scared to get one done as I don't really want to know how my bones are. Shrinking isn't good I'm hoping it wouldn't be too bad b/c I lifted before, during, and after the ED though. We'll have to see if/when I could have one done.

My BF% ranges are all over the place depending on the method:
Tanita: 22-25% lately (I KNOW I am usually dehydrated. I hardly drink any liquids. It's read as low as 18.6% when I was trying to get 6 cups of liquid a day though)
3 pinch - 12%
7 pinch: 17%
1 pinch: 18%

[cfit82]

Dude, how'd you get DEXA? I have been trying to figure out how to get a scan for a couple of months.

I am getting hydrostatic testing done tommorow, for now, i'll say what my scale says: 20.2%

Calipers say I am 12%. But I know that is imposible, cause I did myself, and I don't know what I am doing.

Originally Posted by gynoid

37% - DEXA (january 08)
27% - home BF scale
25% - calipers
17% - online tests

I have no doubt that DEXA is the most accurate measurement of my BF (sadly!) - it's the gold standard for measuring BF%.

[FameGirl]

Originally Posted by JVo

I did the underwater submersion, which reported 16%. The personal trainer at the gym did a caliper measurement that reported 12%, which made me realize that there can be a big percentage error with that if the person doing the measurement isn't well trained.

No method is 100% accurate, i would just average em out!

[gynoid]

Originally Posted by cfit82

Dude, how'd you get DEXA? I have been trying to figure out how to get a scan for a couple of months.

I am getting hydrostatic testing done tommorow, for now, i'll say what my scale says: 20.2%

Calipers say I am 12%. But I know that is imposible, cause I did myself, and I don't know what I am doing.

Keep your eye out for medical studies that need volunteers - it's amazing the tests you can get for free.

For this one (it was about knees) I got a CT, DEXA & X-Ray. I like tests

[terracotta]

my bodyfat number in bodyspace is just an estimate, I have NO interest in knowing the actual number anymore. I got too upset when I got a caliper measurement a few years ago and eventually realized that all that matters is how I look.

[yawaii29]

I had an omron done and it said 17.3%. I had a 3 point caliper done and it said 17.5%.

[littlestar]

Maltron body composition testing....8.9%

[Tiffany_P]

My digital bodyfat scale puts me at 22.3% on "adult" mode and 13.5% on "athlete" mode.

I actually like this website the best for estimation, although at 16.7% I think it's a bit low:
http://www.healthcentral.com/cholest...-2774-143.html

Gynoid, I always wanted a DEXA scan, but now I'm scared! Geez, I wonder if we are all fatter than we think we are. I remember being horrified when I was caliper tested in high school at 24%, but looking back, I probably was a lot more than that.

[twinnett]

Originally Posted by Tiffany_P

My digital bodyfat scale puts me at 22.3% on "adult" mode and 13.5% on "athlete" mode.

I actually like this website the best for estimation, although at 16.7% I think it's a bit low:
http://www.healthcentral.com/cholest...-2774-143.html

Gynoid, I always wanted a DEXA scan, but now I'm scared! Geez, I wonder if we are all fatter than we think we are. I remember being horrified when I was caliper tested in high school at 24%, but looking back, I probably was a lot more than that.

hmmm...that said 22.4 for me, which is probably pretty close! My Omron says 19 and my high tech scale says 23

[mnmiz4me]

the digital has me at 18. something. I had the capiler's done too..So by pinching it read out 18.5..I'm trying for 16%..might just take awhile to get there.