Does anyone else think body fat calipers are bull?

[flowerkitty]

...or body fat measurements in general.

I got my body fat tested today in my gym because they were doing it for free and I wasn't in a hurry as usual. The trainer did it with calipers. According to her and her calipers I am 36.something or other %. Give or take 3%, she says. Like thats a comfort.

I don't have (!@#$%^&*) 36% body fat. Period. If I had that much body fat, I'd have less than 100 lb of LBM. If I lose 40 lb of fat, that would put me at something like 115 lb and 15% bodyfat. I'd be tiny.

I don't get it. I work out around 10-12 hours weekly and I'm obese? Overweight, fine, whatever, but (!@#$%^&*) obese ???

[DirtbagDan]

My calipers piss me off. When I started my cut, they told me I was 23% bodyfat, which is absolutely wrong. I was more like 19-20% at the time. I've worked myself down to 15% and the calipers seem to be a bit more accurate now.

I think the calipers are more accurate when you have a lower bodyfat percentage. Either it's that, or you (or the trainer) is not placing the calipers in the proper spot.

[Venom]

They take a lot of practice and experience to do. So they can be invalid if a novice is taking them.

I highly doubt you are that high body fat.

[flowerkitty]

I got my body fat tested by a futrex machine, twice. The first time I was 26.4% and the second 21.3%. It was done at the same time, same person, etc. So I know I got somewhere. However, looking back on it, I didn't think I was 21%, nor did I think I was 26% before. I think it was more like 30% to down to 25%.

I don't know about her being accurate with the calipers or not. Before my cut my boyfriend used calipers for me and I was 31%. This was just for fun because my boyfriend is a moron when it comes to exercise stuff. I mean, they're not that hard to use, but I'd assume she was better. And since then, it is clear that I have lost fat, and ever more clear that I gained a decent amount of muscle. Before my cut, I was leaning on fat-skinnyfat.

And I'm not (!@#$%^&*) obese!

[Venom]

I would not put much stock in a clearly invalid measurement. Find other valid ways to monitor your results. Weight, body appearance, how you fit in your clothes, and your performance.

If you are really interested in a valid measurement, you could try to find a pod bod machine to use. Many universities have them. And I would also practice using your calibers. Accu fitness digital measurer is a good one, then there is a guide in laymans JHR on how to use it.

[l0stsheep]

My calipers aren't bull...but they are plastic.


SNAP! HA [img]/forum/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[Boka]

It all depends on the persons experience with body fat testing. As a fitness consultant I have done tests with both calipers and bio-electrical devices. Both have their issues.

Calipers have the following problems I find.

- Do not work well on people with very high BF.
- Improper use = wrong results
- Three skin fold measurements aren't enough to get a accurate reading, more measurements the better the accuracy.

Bio-Electrical Devices:

- Works on body fluid levels
- Sodium, caffeine, alcohol, hydration levels, meals will all influence the result
- the stickiness of the pads on the skin can influence the results.

So all in all, these measurement system can be very useful but only if done properly by both the tester and the testee.

[HELLO77]

When I was really into cardio, I lost a lot of mass and almost all my fat but the scale said I was still 10 pounds over weight according to the medical associations standard for my body type and hieght. I think if i would of lost another 10 pounds , I would of looked like one of those starvation pictures. After that, I forgot about the scale and just went by the way I looked. Its a little bit different with the caliper thing; but I think the samething might apply here.

[Whey Man]

Oh definitely. I don;t trust those pieces of crap. I get a different reading everytime. PLUS when I got it done at the gym once, they told me I was 6% when I was really round 12%. Ridiculous.

I either go by my high tech scale (still don't trust it though), and the mirror.

[Gibbster]

They have BioImpedence scales now that measure the % and weight of water in your system as well. I've been considering buying one as it should be even more accurate then the Athlete mode on a Tanita.