#ACCURATE BODY FAT CALCULATOR MANUAL#
#ACCURATE BODY FAT CALCULATOR PROFESSIONAL#

The heritage BMI to Body Fat Calculator seems to be more inaccurate than BMI, considering it is actually telling people to go lower than even BMI does. Keep in mind that all of these equations, like anything else, have some general limitations: Based on that information, I can get a pretty good idea of what my body fat percentage really is.

Personally, I like to try all the methods and see what the average value and the range are. Yet others swear by Covert Bailey's method. However, most people will likely tell you that the Department of Defense Method or the YMCA Method is the most accurate. For me, the most accurate method was the Modified YMCA Method. In reality, there are many more variables that affect body fat percentage than just the simple things that are being measured for these equations. It must be noted that no empirical formula is perfect. I was surprised to find that the YMCA Method was less accurate than the Heritage Method. The Modified YMCA Method was the most accurate for my body with the Department of Defense Method trailing close behind it. Starting around puberty, men and women will start to show different fat distribution patterns.It's interesting to note that all of the methods are within the expected +/- 3%. Body Fat Percentage Distribution for Men and WomenĪgain, note that body fat percentage distribution and the distribution of fat itself differs for adult men and women. The caliper and DXA conversion methodology can be found inside our body fat comparison calculator. The Waist-to-Height ratio to body fat percentage formula comes from Relative fat mass (RFM) as a new estimator of whole-body fat percentage ─ A cross-sectional study in American adult individuals Orison O. Health Rangeīody Fat Percentage and DXA to Caliper to Conversion Methodology These are estimated for DXA based off the above caliper table. ACE Health Guidelines for Body Fat Percentage Ranges (Caliper) Health RangeĪCE Health Guidelines for Body Fat Percentage Ranges (DXA Scan)

#ACCURATE BODY FAT CALCULATOR PROFESSIONAL#

Please consult a medical professional for any advice, especially if these estimates put you on the extremes of the scale. Men and women will likely encounter massive drive to eat food, and women of childbearing age might lose their menstrual cycle. 'Essential Fat' is 'Underweight' and can be quite hazardous.

Our body fat percentage health status scale comes from ACE, the American Council on Exercise.Īnything in 'Acceptable' weight roughly maps to 'Overweight' in the BMI Calculator presented scale. Since caliper and DXA estimates of body fat differ, we need to use two scales to present health breakpoints with body fat percentages. If you are concerned about your health because of body fat or otherwise, please consult a medical professional. The formula thus differs slightly for males and females:īe sure you are using the same units for height and waist circumference Healthy Body Fat Percentageĭisclaimer: nothing on DQYDJ is health advice. Body Fat Percentage Estimate FormulaĪdult men and women have different base levels of muscle, essential fat, and fat distribution and it is reflected in the formula. Measure to the exact highest point on the head.

#ACCURATE BODY FAT CALCULATOR MANUAL#

Height measurement from the 2015-16 NHANES Field Manual Gaze should be forward, with the ear hole aligned with the bottom of the pupil (you most likely do this by default, but make sure your/the gaze is straight ahead). Height should be measured with the buttocks, upper back, and back of head touching a flat vertical surface. Take the measurement at the peak of an exhale, which will be the smallest measurement. The ilium is the largest and highest bone in the hip: Waist measurement location from the 2015-16 NHANES Field Manual Your tape should stretch around the body at the level of the top of the left and right ileum on the hip. Take a Waist Measurementįor the waist measurement, you'll need a flexible measuring tape such as this one from Amazon. You can read the 2015-16 guides for each measurement section here – check Anthropometry for the details. The RFM formula (basis for this tool and short for Relative Fat Mass) is based on 1999-2006 NHANES measurement microdata. Measure Your Height and Waist Circumference Use a caliper such as this one for more accuracy. Note that for low body fat percentages – DXA estimates under 14% or so male and 24% female – the RFM estimate might be high. Complete measurement instructions are given below the tool. Measure your height and waist in either meters and centimeters or feet and inches, enter your sex, and hit calculate for an estimate. It uses wa ist to height ratio to estimate body fat percentage either measured by caliper or DXA scan. On this page is a Body Fat Estimate Calculator.

Accurate body fat calculator