Bodyfat %

K

kinewone

New Member
Hello all,

I've never had a bodyfat analysis so I have no idea what my % is. I don't have access to a gym at the moment, so I'm shopping around for either a decent caliper or scale.

With calipers I've heard that there can be a large margin of error depending on all the different calculations/formulas you can use, but I also wonder how accurate a bodyfat scale can be as well.

So what does everyone here use or recommend?

Thanks kindly
 
I use bioimpedance for trend tracking. If I really cared to find my true bodyfat% I would get hydrostatic testing done and use the result to "calibrate" my bioimpedance device.

Much of the error in bioimpedance can be reduced by measuring at the same time every day (ex. after waking up and peeing) and measuring daily, but averaging weekly for a result.
 
Tanita scale worked for me when I was carrying more body fat, but now it reads several percentage points too high.  I just got a hydrostatic and caliper test today and results were 14.1 and 13.1, respectively (probably didn't get all the air out of my lungs for the hydrostatic).  The scale has been reading around 17%.

Like bgates says, you can track trends with a scale, but for accuracy your best bet is hydrostatic.  The Accumeasure calipers seem to be ok and only use one reading, but I would check them against a hydrostatic test and/or a trained person with a 3-point caliper reading.
 
Most of the time I use the mirror!

I have a body fat scale that has never put me at less than 20%. I've had several caliper tests that put me somewhere around 10%. I would only use a body fat scale to track changes in body fat.
 
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