#Caliper body fat how to
#Caliper body fat skin

The best way for you, the general consumer, to use body fat calipers is not to try to determine your exact body fat content and percentage but rather to use the measurements given by the calipers to measure progress. Fat calipers are best used not to determine the exact body fat content a person has but rather to help measure progress of a diet, exercise or supplement program.

#Caliper body fat how to

How to Measure Body Fat With CalipersĪnd, even using the best fat calipers on the market today, there is still a 4% margin of error. There are over 100 different mathematical equations that can be used depending on sex, age, ethnicity, fitness level and the overall amount of body fat a person has will determine which equation to use and the general consumer will have a virtually impossible time picking the best equation. Using body fat calipers to calculate body mass index or fat content may not be as simple as it seems, though.

#Caliper body fat skin

Placing a pinch of folded skin between the points of a fat caliper and then using that information to extrapolate fat content is much quicker and easier. However, the other methods of measuring fat content (body fat scales and hydrostatic or underwater weight measuring) are time consuming, budget restrictive and hard for a single person to accomplish.

As with any mathematical equation the possibility of “user error” exists. It’s important to remember that fat calipers do not determine the fat content of the body itself but rather provide a number that plugs into an equation to determine the fat content. The person using the caliper puts the measurement into an equation that predicts body density and fat content. They work by measuring skin folds to determine the subcutaneous (beneath the skin) fat content of the body. My favorite caliper, made by Accu Measure, is just one of a host of similar devices designed to help determine the amount of fat within the body.įat calipers have replaced underwater weighing as the primary way to determine the body’s fat content. One of the best ways to determine the body’s fat content is with body fat calipers. In the case of those trying to gain weight, you don’t just want to gain mass, you want to be lean and toned. By tracking your body weight and body fat levels it allows you to better track your goals. The true goal of any dieter is to lose fat mass and perhaps increase muscle mass, ultimately resulting in a leaner body.