![]() ![]() Since lean tissue conducts electrical impulses quicker than fatty tissue, a faster response time is correlated with a leaner physique. Regardless of the machine, the devices work by sending tiny electrical impulses through the body and measuring how quickly those impulses return. Bioelectrical impedance scales range from the simple (a normal scale with electrodes under each foot) to the complex (a scale that has handholds with additional electrodes). RELATED: How to Calculate Your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)Īlthough the name might sound intimidating, bioelectrical impedance is far from shock therapy. Although the test takes a measurement from each main area of the body (including the upper body, midsection and lower body), a participant that holds greater amounts of fat outside of the measured areas might end up with a lower reading. Consistency with calipers takes practice, so the key is to practice a lot - or find an expert technician.” Body fat distribution can factor into the accuracy level as well. To minimize error, Jessica Kneeland, personal trainer and founder of Remodel Fitness, says “The most important thing is to use the exact same spots every time. This highly depends on the experience and knowledge of the technician. This method relies on readings from only a handful of body parts, so margin for error can vary. (Remember though, it does take considerable practice to be able to accurately self-administer the test.) Bonus: A proper skin fold assessment can be completed in just a matter of minutes, anytime or place. Eager to keep close tabs on your progress? Consider investing in a pair of calipers for at-home testing. And you can expect more than a few trainers on staff to have adequate experience using them. Since calipers are relatively inexpensive (about $10 per pair), the skin fold method is the most easily accessible of all the methods listed here. ![]() After plugging the numbers into a formula, practitioners can estimate body fat percentage. Each protocol has specific sites for testing, commonly including the chest, arms, abs and thighs. Then, he or she uses the skin caliper device to measure the thickness of the skin fold for each site. The technician doing the test first pinches the skin. Patrick’s Day, but get ready to be pinched! Perhaps the most accessible method for measuring body composition, technicians perform a skin fold assessment using either three, four or seven sites (meaning parts of the body). RELATED: The Truth About How to Lose Belly Fat How to Measure Body Fat Percentage To help you navigate the numerous techniques, read on for the top five methods for measuring body fat percentage, along with the pros and cons of each. While one method might calculate your body fat percentage to within a few decimals, others leave a wider range of error. However, with the variation in methods comes a fluctuation in accuracy. These measurement techniques can help individuals determine how to set baseline values for body composition and future goals. So, how exactly do you track body fat?Ī quick Google search will reveal dozens of methods to measure body composition, ranging from the quick and (relatively) painless to the incredibly detailed. For some individuals, increased levels of abdominal fat have been tied to higher risks of heart disease and cancer compared to fat distributed across the rest of the body. And the overall amount isn’t the only concern distribution of body fat matters, too. Higher body fat percentage has been linked to an increased incidence of diabetes, high blood pressure and other heart risks. Many people overlook this important metric, or the measure of fat mass to lean tissue, including bone, muscle, ligaments, tendons and organs. Whether your priority is looking good in a bathing suit or living to see 100, there’s one piece of information that might stand in the way: body composition.
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