bodyfat testing guide

[President Wilson]

For those of you, who need to know the method behind measuring your bodyfat, you can find it in this months mag.
Actually, you can click here (http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/magazine/ultimatebodyfattestingguide.htm). Yu, created the ultimate Guide to measuring bodyfat. Its the best I have read of its kind!

[NJI]

The article is awesome, great job Yu!!

I second that. You could even make it a pamphlet and copyright it. Very very educational.

[W8lifter2]

Dittos to the above comments. I will get it done by Monday and posted. Great job, and thanks!

Bob!

[oes]

Yes indeed. Thanks guys, I was hoping that this info would come out before the challange started. Great job Yu!!

[gordmcfarling]

Yu,

Thanks

[nikybaby]

Great article!! I just don't like the math part. I found a site that does it for you if you punch in the numbers. I still need to compare the site calculations to the formula in Yu's article but I'm sure it's the same.
In case anyone is interested...

7 point for men (http://www.weightrainer.com/7men.html)
7 point for women (http://www.weightrainer.com/7women.html)

Can't find one for the 9 point test yet, but I'm looking...

Here's the site to a 10 point test on an excel spreadsheet that you can download which will calculate your bodyfat for you, both men & women. BPB and I use this one (he also posted it in training).

http://maelstrom.seos.uvic.ca/people/zahariev/misc/bf_women.html

[Cherie]

Great site Krypto, I can recheck the formula that way to see if i did it correctly!

Cherie

[groovechamp30]

i love you!!!:)

[nikybaby]

Great calculator! Way better than the other ones. cool!

[cpals]

My math must be wrong, because something didn't happen right...

(DB) = (upper Arm) – Constant (Age) –(Hip) + (Wrist)
DB= 33 - 21 - 54 + 17 = -25

Weird number... ??

[Megawacko]

My math was screwy too, on the DB, why did we write out height down in cm and then not use it, or is it I just dont know what a constant is? Constant x age first? Uh oh mental melt down!!!...lol

Great article tho, keep me learning!! Thanks!

[lifterchick]

Hi,
I continue to be impressed by the info on this site!!!! I noticed that you didn't include the bioelectrical impedence scales like the ones made by Tanita. Since that's what I use, I was just wondering what you think of them. Are they similar in accuracy to the NIR, or are they so worthless they don't even get an honorable mention, lol?
Thanks,
Lifterchick

I tried calculating my body fat % using the 7 pt and 9 pt calculation methods in Yu's article. I got a very weird number using the 7 pt. method, so I checked out other references. I think there may be a typo in the article.

For men, the equation for Db in the article is:

Db = 1.112(.00043499)(sum of seven) + (.00000055)(sum of seven ^2)-(.00028826)(age)

However, I think there should be a (-) sign after the 1.112

Can Yu or someone else confirm this?

<blockquote><font class="small">Posted by: lifterchick:</font><hr>...are they so worthless they don't even get an honorable mention, lol?
Thanks,
Lifterchick <hr /></blockquote>

Yep. Worthless. The leaner you get the more inaccurate it becomes. You can't even rely on it for consistency. Example, my bodyfat by calipers is 16.8% my Tanita scale reads me anywhere from 20-22%. /forum/images/graemlins/mad.gif

[lifterchick]

<blockquote><font class="small">Posted by: ***********:</font><hr> Yep. Worthless. The leaner you get the more inaccurate it becomes. You can't even rely on it for consistency. Example, my bodyfat by calipers is 16.8% my Tanita scale reads me anywhere from 20-22%. /forum/images/graemlins/mad.gif <hr /></blockquote>

You know what, that's actually great news, cuz I feel like I've been working hard and looking more muscular (not leaner, mind you) and the scale says I've LOST about 4 lbs of lean mass and replaced it w/fat!!!! It was so discouraging. I feel so much better now. See how easily I get caught up in that numbers game /forum/images/graemlins/crazy.gif? Maybe I'll post some pics after all!

THANKS!
Lifterchick

http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/happy/xyxthumbs.gif

Yeah, don't get caught up in the numbers game (like I do sometimes /forum/images/graemlins/crazy.gif ), go by how you look in the mirror and how your clothes fit. /forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[falser]

I wrote a javascript bodyfat calculator based on the formulas - it can do the 3, 7 and 9 point tests.

You'll have to download and extract it (a single html file) because this is coming off my cablemodem and don't want people to rely on it being online all the time.

http://fury161.dyndns.org:82/bodyfat.zip

[Zaffir]

Could i do the bodyfat tests with a pair of regular calipers - ones that i have lying around my workbench that aren't meant for measuring bodyfat exclusively?

I doubt they would be graduated in the proper units to be valid bodyfat measurements. Bodyfat calipers go by very small increments. Not sure though since I'm not a "tool" type person but I doubt they can be used.

[Zaffir]

Well, my regular calipers go to millimeters, which is what BF calps measure. I used them, but they're pretty hard to use properly - the measuring "tips" aren't constructed like the bodyfat caliper's are and that makes it very hard to pinch the fat properly. Sigh, i guess i'll have to wait the pair i ordered (on the 3rd of this month) to show up.

[AllenAyres]

<blockquote><font class="small">Posted by: nikybaby:</font><hr> Great article!! I just don't like the math part. I found a site that does it for you if you punch in the numbers. I still need to compare the site calculations to the formula in Yu's article but I'm sure it's the same.
In case anyone is interested...

7 point for men (http://www.weightrainer.com/7men.html)
7 point for women (http://www.weightrainer.com/7women.html)

<hr /></blockquote>

there's auto-calculators at the bottom of each of these pages... thanks nikybaby for the link. And thanks for the great article in this month's ezine /forum/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[subliminalurge]

<blockquote><font class="small">Posted by: ***********:</font><hr>Yep. Worthless. The leaner you get the more inaccurate it becomes. You can't even rely on it for consistency. Example, my bodyfat by calipers is 16.8% my Tanita scale reads me anywhere from 20-22%. /forum/images/graemlins/mad.gif <hr /></blockquote>

This may be a stupid question, but are the handheld units as worthless as the scales?

[thunderpunch]

for the 9 point...it says this


9-point skin fold equation:
Measurement (pectorals, subscapular, bicep, tricep, suprailiac, midaxilla, abdominals, thigh, calf)
*
(Sum of nine skin folds/weight [lbs.]) x .27 = BF%



Does this mean that you add up all the measurments, divide it by ur weight, then multiply by .27? cause I got a big decimal so I was assuming that maybe you would have to change the decimal place? am I wrong?

[thunderpunch]

oops I was right..

[Himo_VZ]

/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[nolakofwill_101]

dude, sell that stuff, so many unimfomed people about bodyfat (me included) could alwasy use the knowledge

[Fireproof]

[ QUOTE ]
I wrote a javascript bodyfat calculator based on the formulas - it can do the 3, 7 and 9 point tests.

You'll have to download and extract it (a single html file) because this is coming off my cablemodem and don't want people to rely on it being online all the time.

http://fury161.dyndns.org:82/bodyfat.zip

[/ QUOTE ]

Just downloaded and tried this calculator - AWESOME! Great work - love the ease of use as well as integration of the pictures showing the test sites.

Great job.

We should get this posted as a web-page here at ABC!!!

[fireloard]

Anyway my diet is screwed for today but in the past week I gained 4lbs (which is pretty good but I doubt I can do that again)... my bf% measure came out less this week although I'm sure my bf% is higher since I look not as ripped. I must of messed up my measurements from the first week but oh well i'm gaining like I said I would.

Age: 21
Weight: 118
Pectoral: 6
Abdomen: 6
Thigh: 6
Subscapula: 7
Tricep: 2
Midaxillary: 4
Suprailiac: 3
Bicep: 3
Medial Calf: 4

Bf % estimate: 9.4%

My diet is set to be great for the week... hopefully I can break my 120 barrier...

[Schlyder]

Great job Yu...