There are 3 simple and effective ways to measure body fat:
- Skin-fold caliper test
- Underwater weighing
- Height and weight cart
How to measure body fat by skin-fold caliperOne
of the accurate way to measure body fat is in use at doctors' offices,
sports facilities, health clubs, and gyms all over US. The skin-fold
caliper test attempts to measure the fat which lies directly beneath the
skin. Measurements of this subcutaneous fat are made with a caliper,
usually at three sites on the body - the back of the upper arm, between
the elbow and shoulder, 1 cm below the shoulder-blade, and 3 cm above
the hipbone, on the abdomen.
The measurements are then compared to
an established standard for obesity, or used in a formula to yield an
obesity index. The major drawback to the skin-fold caliper test is the
difficulty in getting reliable measurements. Measurements vary from
technician to technician, and often a technician will obtain different
readings at different times on the same subject.
Underwater weighingOf
the simplest methods for measuring body fat (potassium 40 whole body
counters, specific gravity tests, and body water measurements), the
specific gravity method is most familiar to sports enthusiasts and
fitness buffs. In this method, the individual is weighed underwater.
Because fat tends to float and muscle, which is more dense, tends to
sink, we can measure the proportion of fat in the body by comparing your
body weight out of water to weight underwater.
Height and body weight chartsAnother
way to determine if you are obese or overweight is to compare your body
weight to established standards for height and weight. The height and
weight chart is based on weight in normal clothing, and height in 5 cm
heels for women, and 2.5 cm heels for men. Broadly speaking, being 15-20
percent over desirable weight for your height, frame size, and age is
classified as obesity.
There are several problems in using the height/weight tables to determine if you are overweight or obese:
- In order to use the tables, we must first decide whether we are
small, medium, or large framed. Human nature being what it is, we tend
to choose the category which will be the most flattering.
- The height and weight tables can be extremely inaccurate if there is
a high proportion of either fluid or muscle in the body. In other
words, if you are a very muscular athlete, your weight will be higher
than the normal range, because muscle weighs more than fat. Similarly,
if you are suffering from an abnormal accumulation of water in the body,
your weight will be artificially high. (Women who suffer monthly weight
gains of 1-2 kilograms are familiar with this syndrome.
- When using the tables, it is important to remember that the
standards are based on figures made available by insurance companies.
These figures represent the weights at which there were the lowest
mortality rates, and do not necessarily reflect the weights at which
individuals enjoy optimal health.
While these body
fat measurements are by no means 100 percent accurate, they can be
helpful in giving you an idea of how to determine frame size, percentage
of body fat, and proper weight for your height and age. They're also
fun to use and fun belongs in any eating management program.
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