Best way to calculate % body fat?

[pathdoc2]

I used a formula off the internet today and got a really low number that I don't trust. Here is the equation.

Body Fat Formula For Men
Factor 1 (Total body weight x 1.082) + 94.42
Factor 2 Waist measurement x 4.15
Lean Body Mass Factor 1 - Factor 2
Body Fat Weight Total bodyweight - Lean Body Mass
Body Fat Percentage (Body Fat Weight x 100) / total bodyweight

I'm 141.5 lbs with a 30 inch waist.

My BMI going by the charts is about 23.5. This formula gave me a 13% body fat. Does that sound right to anyone?
Appreciate the help.
Steve

[2nd_chance]

Best way? Just post a pic and I'll tell you

Edit: based on your bodyspace pics I'd say it's about right... 13-15%

[Payton1221]

I used a formula off the internet today and got a really low number that I don't trust. Here is the equation.

Body Fat Formula For Men
Factor 1 (Total body weight x 1.082) + 94.42
Factor 2 Waist measurement x 4.15
Lean Body Mass Factor 1 - Factor 2
Body Fat Weight Total bodyweight - Lean Body Mass
Body Fat Percentage (Body Fat Weight x 100) / total bodyweight

I'm 141.5 lbs with a 30 inch waist.

My BMI going by the charts is about 23.5. This formula gave me a 13% body fat. Does that sound right to anyone?
Appreciate the help.
Steve

I'd never seen that before, but that puts me within 4# of the lean body mass that a hydrodensity test calculated me to be in September. My avi was taken at 16% bf, so you might be a percent or two higher than what you've suggested.

[pathdoc2]

Thanks guys, I thought 13% was too low. Appreciate the input.

[nixter]

I'm going to be picking up a Sequoia Warrior caliper soon I think.

[jstaguy24]

oct 11 2011.jpg
This formula puts me at at 22% I did the caliper test using the brozaic method? Not sure if I got the name right. Dont have my ISSA book in front of me. That put me at 19% I have an after pic on my bodyspace. Maybe someone can tell me where they think I am. I attached a picture if it works

[pathdoc2]

I just ordered a Omron hand held body fat analyzer. We'll see if it works. $29.99 off eBay so not too big of a lose if it doesn't work.

[Taur]

I just ordered a Omron hand held body fat analyzer. We'll see if it works. $29.99 off eBay so not too big of a lose if it doesn't work.

If it works it will be the best money you evwer spent for tracking your progress. As long as you follow the instructions and check your BF percentage at the same time of day you should be set. My advice is to check it when you first get up in the morning before eating or drinkinjg anything.

I love my Omron that I purchased from Amazon NEW for about $29.99 a couple years back. Not sure about buying a used one?

[fittofattofit]

I just ordered a Omron hand held body fat analyzer. We'll see if it works. $29.99 off eBay so not too big of a lose if it doesn't work.

Sorry, but the bio-impedance monitors are a waste of time. They depend on a small electric current that passes through the body and compare the time it takes to pass through the body against statistics collected from a range of people. There are so many variables that can influence the time it takes that they are regarded as pretty worthless

Skin fold tests are more accurate if they are done by someone who knows what they are doing

Here are a few skin fold calculators
http://www.linear-software.com/online.html

this is a simple summary and rating for body fat assessment techniques
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/ma...ticlekey=56830

The most reliable tests are DEXA scans and hydrostatic testing.
Bod-pods are next
Skin folds when done well
Bio-impedance

[acrawlingchaos]

bio-impedance monitors are a waste of time.

Horrible machines, a glass of water or a salty meal can significantly alter the readings.

Skin fold tests are more accurate if they are done by someone who knows what they are doing

A note on skin folds tests. Skin fold tests will not give you an accurate body fat measurement. However, if they are consistently done by the same person, they can show an accurate change in body fat percentage. If you are going to use a caliper, have the SAME PERSON MEASURE EACH TIME.

The most reliable tests are DEXA scans and hydrostatic testing.
Bod-pods are next
Skin folds when done well
Bio-impedance

The most "practical and accurate" method, in my opinion, is a BOD POD. They are as accurate as a dunk tank. It uses the same method as hydrostatic, except BOD POD displaces air, not water. DEXA machines are uncommon and testing is expensive.

[jdtemple]

The best way, IMO, is to put pics up in the Losing Fat section and ask.

[Lishnik]

I picked up an Accumeasure caliper this past weekend and measured out at 15.9% bodyfat which was confirmed by the formula posted by the OP at 16%. The truth hurts and I need to update my bodyspace from 14% to 16%. Maybe, maybe not...

The charts for my caliper provide different bodyfat % based on age i.e. a 10 mm pinch can indicate a bodyfat % ranging from 10.5% for an 18 year old to 19.1% for a 56 year old. It seems like the chart incorporates age related muscle attrition in calculating the bodyfat % so it may not be accurate for someone that lifts regularly who experiences muscle growth rather than attrition. Hopefully my bodyfat % is actually lower than that implied in the chart for my age group. Of course that doesn't explain the confirmation by the OP's formula.

I'm fat. I'm not fat. I'm fat. I'm not fat. Mirror, mirror on the wall...

[pathdoc2]

Using my hand held body fat machine I get a 14.5% body fat. That's pretty close so I think I actually trust this devise.

[acrawlingchaos]

Using my hand held body fat machine I get a 14.5% body fat. That's pretty close so I think I actually trust this devise.

Do yourself a favor, drink 2 bottles of water and retest. Better yet, test in the morning, and test in the evening.

Bio-electrical impedance is not accurate. Why trust a machine that is known to be wildly accurate just because it seems right?

[JJRKnights]

This formula has me at 16.792%, at my current bodyweight of 253.2.
I'm going to say maybe i'm at 20-23% in reality.

[mrmrbill]

re: bio vs. caliper -- I've been running monthly tests since July, getting checked at the gym via bio-impedence (Omron 306) and then by caliper at the local supp store. Caliper checks were with the same attendant, immediately after the gym check. At higher ranges, the variance was about 6% (the first July test was: bio-imp = 16, caliper = 22, avg. of 3 readings both cases.) Coming down in BF, the two methods were within 1.5%, September reading was: bio-imp = 11.5, caliper = 13, avg of 3 readings.

[MontyMagpie]

I did that formula and I got 17.0885572%

[OZBB]

IMO the only 100% accurate way to find your BF% is to get a DEXA scan.... not only do you get you Body Fat %, but actual BF per body part, Lean Mass per body part and Bone Density. The information is invaluable and provides the big picture of what going on inside your body... stepping on scales just doesnt cut it for me.... I might see weight loss or gain, but the DEXA will tell you what you're losing or gaining... last time I had a scan I'd recently lost 3kgs (6.6lbs).... I was worried I'd lost LBM.... however the scan told me I'd shed 4kgs of Fat, but had gained 1 kg of LBM from my previous scan... needless to say I walked away smiling that day..... so my advice, find a place that does DEXA scans, and do them semi regularly to keep track.

OZBB

[Payton1221]

my advice, find a place that does DEXA scans, and do them semi regularly to keep track.

Ozbb, how did you find who offers this service? Even internet searches of "DEXA scan MY-CITY,STATE" comes up empty . . . did find one though, and when I called, the person answering the phone didn't know if the results would include body fat, and when she asked others, she said their results were simply for bone density (??????).