For more accurate measurements of body fat the use of instruments such as bioelectric impedance analysis or hydrostatic density testing is necessary. Fm bf weight lean mass lm formula.
Ece 4760 Bioelectrical Body Fat Analyzer
Body fat measurement circuit. Another method for calculating an estimate of body fat percentage uses bmi. There are also hand held devices and scales which measure body fat but these are often inaccurate. In this article we describe the range of methods include those that a person can try at home. No electrical current is involved. Then input your gender and measurements below to receive a body fat index based on average values. In the example 3607 divided by 140 times 100 calculates a percent body fat of 2576 percent.
Fat mass fm formula. Hydrostatic weighing and other high tech machines are expensive and almost impossible for a layperson to access. By measuring that impedance the device can calculate the percentage of body fat. Lm weight fm bmi method. Using body fat calipers. The amount of water found in body tissues impedes or obstructs the electrical current to a different extent depending on whether the tissue is fat muscle or bone.
To calculate body fat percentage add your waist and hip measurements and then subtract the neck measurement to determine your circumference value. The forearm circumferenceis only needed to calculate the body fat of women. Dont pull your stomach in either. Put your tape around the thickest part of your forearm close to your elbow. The measuring tape you bring around your waist should sit tightly but it shouldnt dig into your skin. But others feel that body fat percentage is really the way to go.
The bmi numbers are way too general to be really useful says tammy callahan marketing manager of life measurement inc which. Use a tape measure to determine your waist wrist hip and forearm circumference. The body fat index is not an indicator of fitness level since the calculation is made with no regard to height or weight. Skinfold calipers measure the thickness of your subcutaneous fat the fat underneath the skin at certain body locations. Divide your fat mass by your body weight and multiply by 100 to calculate percent body fat. There are various ways to measure the percentage of body fat and some are more high tech than others.
Calipers are a pinch an inch way to measure body fat. Measurements are taken at either 3 or 7 different sites on the body. For our purposes the easiest and most accurate choice is the caliper method. For example if your waist is 30 your hips are.