Measuring body fat

[tjam5270]

The gym where I workout has a handheld bodyfat analyzer, so last July I got brave and tried it out. I hadn't had my bodyfat measured for several years, and the last time it was about 25% (arrgh!). But in July it was 17.7%, so I felt pretty good about that. In October I measured it again, and it was down to 14%. So, that was very encouraging.

So here's the deal. I decided to buy a bodyfat analyzer and scale. Like the handheld analyzer at the gym, it uses BIA (Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis). I didn't expect that it would produce the precise results of the handheld analyzer, but I figured it would be close. When you set up the scale, you have to enter your age. And after some experimenting, it realized that the results somehow have age factored in. Because when I put my age at 49, the results were 25%. When I lowered the age to 30, the results were 21%. And when I lowered the age to 21, the results were 18%. On top of that, the scale has what they call Althete Mode, which the scale's manual says in for individuals who are involved in intense physical activity for 12 or more hours/week. So in Athlete Mode at an age of 49 the bodyfat results are 11.5%. Unfortunately, I don't technically qualify for Athlete Mode because I only exercise 8-10 hours/week.

So here's my question: What's up with the broad range of results? And why does age matter? Seems to me that regardless of how old you are, your % bodyfat is what it is. And I definitely don't understand why this Ahtlete Mode should matter either. Does anybody have any insight into this? I wrote the scale's manufacturer for their explanation, but I haven't gotten a reply. And I really can't find any answers on the internet either. Most talk about age being a factor for determining whether your bodyfat% falls into the normal range or not, but nothing about why it is part of calculating the result.

[theatrain]

I've heard that electronic body fat analyzers can be as much as 30% off, and according to what you just told us.. It must be true.

The most accurate method of body fat measurement involves being submerged in water to analyze what percent of you is fat. I forget what this method is called and have no idea where you would go to get it done.

The next best method would be hand held calipers, assuming the person measuring you is very experienced in using them and everytime you want your fat % measured you have the same person do it with the same set of calipers.

I am not nearly experienced in using calipers, but when I found a 25$ pair that was listed on bodybuilding.com for 7$, I bought them.

I use the ATRAIN method this involves calipers and a mirror. See, first I see how much fat I can grab with the calipers and I look in the mirror. Haha, if I look better and I can grab less fat.. Well I assume I've only made improvements. While I don't get any exact % measurement I can tell if my body composition has changed.

Btw, for the ATRAIN method lol.. Calipers aren't neccesary, only a mirror :-p

[tjam5270]

I purchased a set of calipers. The package claims that it measures "within 1.1% of gold standard underwater weighing results."

So, using the calipers, my bodyfat % is ~12.6%. Not too far off from using the Athlete mode on my scale. About a percent higher, which seems more reasonable to me anyway. But definitely a huge different between the caliper reading and the non-Athlete mode on the scale, which has me anywhere between 25 and 27%. And I know darn well that it's not that high.

In any case, at least now I have a couple of methods that will help me monitor my progress.

[tooncesthecat]

The best way to monitor progress is with the mirror!

[Insex]

Originally Posted by theatrain

The most accurate method of body fat measurement involves being submerged in water to analyze what percent of you is fat. I forget what this method is called and have no idea where you would go to get it done.

Hydrostatic Body Fat Testing (Hydro-Densitometry).

As for the calipers, the best way to use them is to have someone else who is certified to take your measurements for you, like a personal trainer. If you try to do it on yourself, that leaves more room for error.

[johnny_on_the_spot]

Hydrostatic Body Fat Testing can be done at a lot of universities for somewhere around $50 give or take a little...

i would contact the kinesioligy (sp?) or sports medicine department, if they dont do it, they might know who will

[napoleon]

I was looking at getting one of these digital scales too, Im not really worried about it being accurate as long as its consistently wrong. Id like to track progress or lack thereof. I know the mirror is the best way but Id like to see some numbers supporting fat loss attempts.

[painless2]

Make sure you have the same person do the caliper testing, that way it standardizes any built in error.