BF% Question

[jschwab]

I calculated my body fat using two different methods. On one it was 29%, on the other 65%. The 65% seems more likely, but being 65% fat doesn't seem right either. Are there any reliable or near-reliable formulas floating around that can be done without calipers or submersion?

Also, if anyone else knows there BF%, it would be nice to know what kind of range I should be thinking in. I am 5'5" and 240 pounds.

Janine

[LacyOkey]

Honestly other than a water bf comp test I dont think there are too many accurate methods calipers should get you within 5%.
I did an online test and one at the gym with calipers.
I found a site that is similiar to what the calipers came up with for me: http://www.freeweightloss.com/calculator.html

This is also the one I used back when I had a trainer at the gym.he measured my bf monthly this calculator came within a few percent of what he did everytime

[rightnow]

My fitness blog at http://tomboytough.blogspot.com has a link over on the right, to an online place where you can put in your measurements and it gives you back a rating.

It isn't so much important that it is precise as that the means you use to measure is the same / stays consistent over time. The 'change' matters more than the number.

[LacyOkey]

hm the one I use puts me at 38.6% and the one on that site says 29% interesting because the one I use has less measurements

[Terry-24]

There's the Covert Bailey home measurements test:

Home Body Fat Test (http://www.healthcentral.com/cholesterol/home-body-fat-test-2774-143.html) uses measurements of weight, waist, wrist, hip and forearm. The site claims a plus/minus factor of 2 (percentage points) for average folk, and a +/- 3 to 5% for very, very fit or very, very skinny folk.

Cheers--
Terry-24

[diemde]

If you are willing to spend a little money, you can be tested for BF and oxygen utilization in a Bod Pod: http://www.bodpod.com/p_bodAbout.php. You would have to look around your area to see who offers it. I had this done right before I started with a personal trainer in 2005 (he required it) and it was definitely worth it. It was $25 to have it done in 2005, but that was with a discount from the PT. All you do is sit there for a few minutes and it measures based on your breathing. Very simple and easy to do and they give you a printed report.

When I had that done, I already had a BF analyzer and I compared the results and it was comparable. So I didn't go back for add'l bod pod tests, but just kept using my BF monitor. The one I have is an older version of this one: http://www.omronhealthcare.com/enTouchCMS/app/viewDocument?docID=45. The hand held units like this one are supposed to be more accurate than the ones that are built into the scales. I definitely recommend having one of these.

The real key with BF measurements is not the accuracy of the measurement, but the trending over time. As you lose weight or build muscle, you want the %BF number to go down. So no matter which method you use, you want to continue using that same method so that you are comparing apples to apples each time you measure.

Oh, one other tip, the BF analyzer that I have doesn't work if you are over 50% BF. So you'll want to make sure it works for you before buying it. They'll let you try them out in the store, so I would recommend doing that.

I'm currently around 44% BF at 5'8" and 237 lbs. That puts me around 104 lbs of fat and 133 lbs of lean mass (muscle, bone, non-fat tissue). The lady who did my bod pod was amazed that I had that much lean mass. After I told her how much weight I had lost, that explained it for her. Those of us who have over 100 lbs to lose have more lean mass than thinner people simply from carrying around the excess fat!