Then with the calipers in your right hand place the jaws of the calipers as shown in the diagrams below. Skinfold calipers measure the thickness of your subcutaneous fat the fat underneath the skin at certain body locations. Press on the serrated thumb pad next to the word press until the two arrows line up. Body fat weight weight lean body mass. A basic way to measure body fat percentage is by using a soft tape measure like the kind youd use for sewing to record measurements of different parts of the body. Then input your gender and measurements below to receive a body fat index based on average values.
You can get body fat tape measures from the market. 8 therefore measuring the thickness of your folds of skin is a fairly accurate method to calculate body fat percentage. The body fat index is not an indicator of fitness level since the calculation is made with no regard to height or weight. A basic and most common way to measure body fat percentage is by using soft tape measure. Use a tape measure to determine your waist wrist hip and forearm circumference. Pull your shoulders back keep your head up and look straight ahead.
How to correctly take measurements if youre right handed pull out the fold of skin with the underlying layer of fat with your left hand and hold it with the fingers of the left hand. For this method an individual should know about hisher height in inches. Lean body mass women weight 0732 8987 wrist 3140 waist 0157 hip 0249 forearm 0434. Once you feel like you have a good pinch perform these steps. Place a ruler or straight edge against the top of your head and push it against the wall. Lean body mass men weight 1082 9442 waist 415.
Attempt to separate the fat tissue from the surrounding tissue with a good pinch then pull away from the body just slightly. You can also find tape. Measurements are taken at either 3 or 7 different sites on the body. Stand straight against a wall or other flat surface. Your body fat percentage is dependent on your height making this a necessary measurement. Place the calipers about 1 centimeter to the side of your fingers.
According to the american council on exercise approximately 50 of your body fat lies under the skin. Using skinfold calipers is the most common way to measure your body fat mass. If you are interested how it works here are the formulas we use.