Best way to work out body fat?

[Ben0]

Hey guys wondering what method most here use to measure body fat % . I have a set of calipers, so wondering what method the best?

[Leeroid]

Most accurate method is probably a DEXA scan, followed by underwater hydrostatic weighing, followed by skinfold measurements (the more sites the better), followed by bioelectrical impendence machines. Or you can just post pics and get experienced guys to guess for you which I think is a more accurate guess than any of the above methods. 

 

Underwater weighing can be affected by the density of the bones and muscles and so there is still room for error as the end result is reached via a formula which may not be accurate for everyone. DEXA scans tend to be more accurate, I think and you can get a breakdown of all the different components that build up your body:

 

Just got back from my Endo Dr. after getting my results from the DXA Scans and the Hydrodensitometer Weighing method.....I am very surprised at the numbers that I have just discovered...
My Bodyweight: 198.25lbs
My Skeleton : 38.69lbs
All Internal Organs: 24.93lbs
Total Blood Volume: 11.95lbs/11.95 pints
Total Water :  15.71lbs
Arteries,Veins,Capillaries: 2.73lbs and 99,873 miles in length(crazy!)
Total Bodyfat : 19.73lbs
Muscle,Tendon,Ligaments,Cartillage: 62.86lbs
Epidermis(Skin) : 21.65lbs
The Underwater (Hydrodens.)Method gave me a lower#BF: 17.92lbs  vs DEXA Scan of 19.73lbs..

I'm on prescription hormones and HGH, 54years old,5-11"...Age,height,weight will aslo vary blood,water skeleton,muscle, etc, weights....The DXA cost was $100 and the Hydro Test was $75.
This is just another tool to asses one's progress.

As far as I am aware, DEXA scans are not available in NZ although there are some facilities that provide underwater weighing. I don't think they are cheap though. 

 

Calipers are probably the cheapest and easiest way to track progress. I wouldn't use them to set an absolute bodyfat percentage though as everybody has different fat storage patterns and skinfolds only take into account subcutaneous fat stores. Fat can be stored in many different places, including intramuscular fat and visceral (internal organs) fat. 

 

I think that Bio-electrical impendence scales that work by sending an electrical current through your body are the most unreliable things ever. I can drink a litre of water and go from 15% bodyfat to 10% in about 2 minutes srs. 

[anmph]

I have been told that skin fold measurements are very inaccurate, given that your fat percentage will vary depending on who takes the measurements.  Again electrical impedance can be quite inaccurate. In reply to Leeroid above, that is why you are not supposed to eat or drink prior.  If you were wanting an estimate, then both methods would be fine.  I used an impedance meter similar to one of these this year http://www.e-inbody.com/, this was at Massey Uni.  I would hopefully think these are more accurate as they are used in research papers and cost 5k+ USD.

Just for information sake.  The gold standards are DEXA scans and Bodpod measurements.  Yes DEXA scans are avaliable at multiple places in NZ, however they are routinely used for bone density scans like osteoporosis and research.

The Bodpod is similar to underwater weighing, but is less invasive.  This method is routinely used for research and I have used one at Massey University.  It works by displacement of your air body space, and along with your weight it calculates your body fat and lean muscle mass.

I am not sure if these services can be used commerically, however if you live near Massey Aucks or Palmy then you might be able to nominate yourself for research haha. 

[Pseudonym]

There was a member on here a while back who was looking at introducing a DEXA scan to NZ, I think? Does anyone know if that got off the ground?

[Ben0]

Thanks for the info guys. If using calipers, does anyone know a good site with all the math to work out body fat?  Just a rough idea would be good