If the first two measurements vary by more than one millimeter, measurements should be taken until the variation between two is less than one millimeter. Care is required when reading the caliper dial to the nearest 0.5 mm. Some recommend the marking of the sites with a pen. When conducting the measurements, the site localization needs to be accurate and a recommended average of three measurements for each site should be performed.
There are different types of calipers available on the market, some that require a second person to measure, such as the known Harpenden skinfold caliper and others that are for self-use. There are several things to keep in mind when trying to perform a caliper test. How to measure body fat with a skinfold caliper The following table introduces fat level intervals based on gender, age group and fat percentage: Fat level ■ Given the 89 kg (196 lbs) weight and the BF%, the body fat mass = 32.2 kg ■ The body density in this case is 1.02 x 10 3 kg/m 3 Let’s take an example where the subject is a 30-year-old female, weighing 89 kg (196 lbs) and the following measurements have been taken with a caliper: Biceps = 18 mm Triceps = 20 mm Subscapular = 22 mm Suprailiac = 32 mm. Beside the skinfold caliper measurement methods, BF% can be extracted from tape measurements in key areas of the body such as neck and waist circumference, based on the US Navy tape method. The latter is then expressed as percentage of the total body weight based on:īody fat percentage (BF%) = (fat weight / total body weight) x 100īody fat mass can also be obtained as a difference between subject weight and lean body mass. One of the most common used models is the 2 compartment one that divides the body weight in lean and fat weight. % Body Fat = (495 / Body Density) – 450 How to calculate body fat percentage?īody composition can be defined in the case of the fitness field as the distribution of muscle and fat in the body. The body density obtained is then converted to a body fat percentage amount using the Siri formula: The following table introduces the original Durnin and Womersley formulas: Age group (years) ■ Determination of the body density in 10 3 kg/m 3 based on sum logarithm (L), subject gender and age group. ■ Computation of the logarithm of the sum of the four skinfolds in mm. In order to perform the calculations, the following steps are applied: In the original study the measurements have been taken on the right side of the body, however, no statistical difference has been observed between measurements on either sides. ■ Suprailiac – Diagonal fold, immediately superior and in line with the angle of the iliac crest, on the anterior axillary line. ■ Subscapular – Diagonal 45 degrees fold, 1-2 cm below the angle of the scapula. The arm should be held freely to the side of the body. ■ Triceps – Vertical fold on the posterior midline of the upper arm, halfway between the bony processes (shoulder and elbow). ■ Biceps – Vertical fold on the anterior aspect of the arm, approximately 1 cm above the level of the triceps site. The method is said to have limited population specificity because it has been developed based on the study of a heterogenous group.īefore inputting data in the body fat skinfold calculator by Durnin and Womersley, measure the skinfold in milimeters in the 4 areas described below: This is one of the most accurate skinfold methods, alongside the J ackson and Pollock formulas for 3, 4 or 7 sites.Īccording to the original study, the 4 site formula by Durnin and Womersley can be applied in the case of 16 to 72 year olds. This health tool estimates body fat percentage based on skinfold measurements from 4 sites.
How does the body fat skinfold by Durnin and Womersley calculator work?
0 kommentar(er)
