Older individuals are found to have a lower body density for the same skinfold measurements , which is assumed to signify a higher body fat percentage. However, older, highly athletic individuals might not fit this assumption, causing the formulas to underestimate their body density.

Ultrasound is used extensively to measure tissue structure and has proven to be an accurate technique to measure subcutaneous fat thickness.

By making thickness measurements at multiple sites on the body you can calculate the estimated body fat percentage.

Ultrasound equipment is expensive, and not cost-effective solely for body fat measurement, but where equipment is available, as in hospitals, the extra cost for the capability to measure body fat is minimal. There also exist formulas for estimating body fat percentage from an individual's weight and girth measurements.

For example, the U. Navy circumference method compares abdomen or waist and hips measurements to neck measurement and height and other sites claim to estimate one's body fat percentage by a conversion from the body mass index.

In the U. Navy, the method is known as the "rope and choke. The U. Army and U. Marine Corps also rely on the height and circumference method. Females are measured around the hips, waist, and neck. These measurements are then looked up in published tables, with the individual's height as an additional parameter.

This method is used because it is a cheap and convenient way to implement a body fat test throughout an entire service. Methods using circumference have little acceptance outside the Department of Defense due to their negative reputation in comparison to other methods. The method's accuracy becomes an issue when comparing people with different body compositions, those with larger necks artificially generate lower body fat percentage calculations than those with smaller necks.

Body fat can be estimated from body mass index BMI , a person's mass in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters; if weight is measured in pounds and height in inches, the result can be converted to BMI by multiplying by These formulae are based on work by researchers published in peer-reviewed journals, but their correlation with body fat are only estimates; body fat cannot be deduced accurately from BMI.

Body fat may be estimated from the body mass index by formulae derived by Deurenberg and co-workers. Internal and external cross-validation of the prediction formulas showed that they gave valid estimates of body fat in males and females at all ages. However — contrary to the aforementioned internal and external cross-validation —, these formulae definitely proved unusable at least for adults and are presented here illustratively only.

Still, the following formula designed for adults proved to be much more accurate at least for adults: [28]. Other indices may be used; the body adiposity index was said by its developers to give a direct estimate of body fat percentage, but statistical studies found this not to be so.

Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. What links here Related changes Upload file Special pages Permanent link Page information Cite this page Get shortened URL Download QR code Wikidata item.

Download as PDF Printable version. Total mass of fat divided by total body mass, multiplied by General concepts. Obesity Epidemiology Overweight Underweight Body shape Weight gain Weight loss Gestational weight gain Diet nutrition Weight management Overnutrition Childhood obesity Epidemiology.

Medical concepts. Adipose tissue Classification of obesity Genetics of obesity Metabolic syndrome Epidemiology of metabolic syndrome Metabolically healthy obesity Obesity paradox Set point theory.

Body adiposity index Body mass index Body fat percentage Body Shape Index Corpulence index Lean body mass Relative Fat Mass Waist—hip ratio Waist-to-height ratio. Related conditions. Obesity-associated morbidity.

Arteriosclerosis Atherosclerosis Fatty liver disease GERD Gynecomastia Heart disease Hypertension Obesity and cancer Osteoarthritis Prediabetes Sleep apnea Type 2 diabetes. Management of obesity. Anti-obesity medication Bariatrics Bariatric surgery Dieting List of diets Caloric deficit Exercise outline Liposuction Obesity medicine Weight loss camp Weight loss coaching Yo-yo effect.

Social aspects. Comfort food Fast food Criticism Fat acceptance movement Fat fetishism Health at Every Size Hunger Obesity and the environment Obesity and sexuality Sedentary lifestyle Social determinants of obesity Social stigma of obesity Weight cutting Weight class.

The examples and perspective in this section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. You may improve this section , discuss the issue on the talk page , or create a new section, as appropriate.

September Learn how and when to remove this template message. Main article: Hydrostatic weighing. Main article: Whole-body air displacement plethysmography. Main article: Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Main article: Bioelectrical impedance analysis. Main article: Body mass index.

International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders. doi : PMID Mayo Clinic Proceedings. November 1, The American Journal of Sports Medicine. S2CID Retrieved July 29, The Complete Guide to Sports Nutrition 6th ed.

ISBN Journal of Applied Physiology. American Journal of Physiology. Endocrinology and Metabolism. American Physiological Society. ISSN Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

PLOS ONE. Bibcode : PLoSO.. PMC Archived from the original PDF on Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Bibcode : NYASA. In Brozek J, Henzchel A eds. Techniques for Measuring Body Composition. Washington: National Academy of Sciences. Exercise physiology: basis of human movement in health and disease 2nd ed.

Nutrition Journal. The British Journal of Nutrition. Research on Biomedical Engineering. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 11 April Retrieved 21 October Human Body Composition. Human Kinetics. A comparison between ultrasound techniques, air displacement plethysmography and bioelectrical impedance vs.

dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry". Army Regulation —9: The Army Body Composition Program. Department of the Army.

Archived from the original PDF on 7 October Disordered eating and eating disorders can affect anyone, regardless of gender identity, race, age, socioeconomic status, or other identities.

They can be caused by any combination of biological, social, cultural, and environmental factors — not just by exposure to diet culture.

Body fat scales or smart scales are popular amongst those who want an easy way to monitor their body composition regularly at home. Unlike traditional scales that only measure body weight, body fat scales combine weight scales with something called a foot-to-foot impedance meter FFI The FFI estimates body fat and muscle mass by sending electrical currents to the body and measuring the response.

Muscle and fat respond differently to electrical currents, and the scale uses these differences to determine body fat. Even though this method is one of the simplest ways to estimate body fat in a home setting, there are some drawbacks to using smart scales.

A study compared the accuracy of three smart scales in measuring body weight and composition in underweight, normal weight, and overweight adults against DEXA. The researchers found that although body weight was accurately measured by the scales, body fat was underestimated One of the issues with smart scales is that their accuracy depends on the body composition of the population used to train the smart scale during production.

Plus, accuracy can vary widely between smart scale models Smart scales use a foot-to-foot impedance meter FFI to measure body composition. They can be used as an at-home method for body fat measurement, but their accuracy varies significantly.

Measuring your waist circumference can give you an idea of your body fat levels and whether or not you have a high amount of body fat stored around your midsection Carrying high amounts of fat in your midsection can significantly increase your risk of developing a number of health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and more Knowing your waist circumference can help you determine if you have too much fat stored around your midsection.

All you need to do is to place a non-stretch tape measure around your midsection above your hip bones, making sure the tape measure is horizontal around your waist. Keep the tape measure snug, but make sure to avoid compressing the skin In order to reduce the risk of many health conditions, health organizations recommend that waist circumference be kept below a certain measurement For example, those of Asian descent have lower waist circumference cut off values compared to those of European descent Waist circumference measurement is an easy way to assess body fat levels in your midsection.

However, these methods are typically much less reliable compared to methods used in clinical settings like DEXA. If you have questions about your body composition, including healthy body fat levels for your age, sex, and ethnicity, reach out to a trusted healthcare professional for advice.

Try this today : Body fat levels vary significant depending on factors like age, sex, and ethnicity. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. VIEW ALL HISTORY.

This article…. Smart scales measure not only your weight but also your muscle mass, body fat percentage, and several other health metrics. Here are the 6 best smart…. While they're not typically able to prescribe, nutritionists can still benefits your overall health.

Let's look at benefits, limitations, and more. A new study found that healthy lifestyle choices — including being physically active, eating well, avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol consumption —….

Carb counting is complicated. Take the quiz and test your knowledge! Together with her husband, Kansas City Chiefs MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Brittany Mohomes shares how she parents two children with severe food….

While there are many FDA-approved emulsifiers, European associations have marked them as being of possible concern.

Let's look deeper:. Researchers have found that a daily multivitamin supplement was linked with slowed cognitive aging and improved memory. Dietitians can help you create a more balanced diet or a specialized one for a variety of conditions.

We look at their benefits and limitations. Liquid collagen supplements might be able to reduce some effects of aging, but research is ongoing and and there may be side effects. A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic?

How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Marie Lorraine Johnson MS, RD, CPT — By Jillian Kubala, MS, RD — Updated on February 7, Skinfold calipers Body circumference Body fat scales Waist circumference Bottom line While the most accurate measures of body fat like are generally only used in medical and research settings, there are some ways to measure body fat in the comfort of your own home.

Share on Pinterest. Skinfold calipers. Shop for skinfold calipers at Amazon. Body circumference measurements. Was this helpful? Shop for non-stretch body tape measures at Amazon.

Body fat scales. Waist circumference.

A little more accurate than a body fat calculator is using a skinfold caliper. A caliper is a tool you can use to measure how much body fat you have.

Using the tool, you pinch and measure different parts of your body, which tells you in millimeters how much fat you have underneath the skin in that area.

You can ask your doctor to measure your body fat with a caliper, or you can purchase one to use at home. If you purchase your own skinfold caliper, it most likely will come with a chart to find your body fat percentage.

If it does not, there are online calculators you can use to plug in your skinfold measurements and find your body fat percentage.

Also called underwater weighing, this is more accurate than other methods. When performed properly, hydrostatic weighing can be accurate to 1. It may be difficult to find a place that will do this for you, as most hydrostatic weighing is done for athletes or scientific research.

Since fat and lean body mass have different densities, weighing on land and underwater and comparing the two numbers can give you a fairly accurate body fat measurement. Hydrostatic weighing has long been viewed as the gold standard for getting an accurate measurement of body fat.

Now, there are newer methods, such as MRI or CT scans. Hydrostatic weighing is still considered very accurate and much less expensive.

Some fitness centers or university exercise science departments offer hydrostatic weighing. This method requires a high-tech tool only available at some medical or wellness centers. Commonly called a BodPod, it is a machine that you sit inside for a couple of minutes while it measures the change in air volume around you.

It is a painless way to calculate your body density. From that, the technician can tell you how much of your body weight is lean mass and how much is fat mass. Considering its accuracy, the BodPod test is fairly inexpensive. The whole test takes less than 15 minutes, with only two minutes being inside the chamber itself.

The chamber is egg-shaped and contains a chair and a clear window to see out of. The X-rays are low energy and safe. The machine measures how much of the photons are absorbed by different parts of your body, which gives an accurate picture of your body density.

Studies show that the DEXA scan is cheaper and easier to use to distinguish risk among individuals with type 2 diabetes and other metabolic diseases. This test is only done in medical settings and requires a skilled technician. Because of that, the price tends to be a bit higher, usually a few hundred dollars.

The DEXA scan is one of the most accurate methods of measuring body fat percentage. One major plus to using a DEXA scan is that it can tell you where your body fat is distributed and how much is subcutaneous fat fat under your skin and how much is visceral fat fat surrounding your organs.

Biologically, women need to have more fat stores than men, and a healthy body fat percentage also changes with age. Studies show that healthy body fat percentages are in the following ranges:. Anything above those ranges is considered obesity and is associated with a higher risk of several diseases.

While your total weight may not give much information about your health, learning how much body fat you have can help you learn your risks for certain diseases. People who have body fat percentages higher than the average are at an increased risk for certain chronic diseases, like type 2 diabetes, heart disease , high blood pressure , and some cancers.

A healthy weight looks different for everyone. Not everyone needs to lose fat, and some people-like pregnant women-should never try to lose weight on purpose.

Many people begin healthy lifestyle programs with the goal of losing weight, but rather, the goal should be to lose fat in particular. Your body weight is made up of lean tissue like your internal organs and your muscles. There are ways to keep your healthy muscle and even grow new muscle while reducing your fat stores.

Here are some tips to safely reduce your body fat to healthier levels while keeping your muscle mass. Food plays a bigger role in weight loss than exercise.

One way to reduce your body fat percentage is by watching your food intake. There are many ways you can go about this:.

Mixing cardio exercises, like walking or swimming , with resistance exercises, like weight lifting , can help you achieve full body improvements and maintain muscle mass as you lose weight. While weight loss seems to be all about the food and exercise, your lifestyle can affect your ability to lose weight easily.

Even though this method may seem simple, it does require taking measurements accurately and precisely. Also, this method requires some knowledge of anatomy; for example, knowing the location of the voicebox. A study that included 76 active military service members found no significant differences when comparing the accuracy of the CM method to DEXA — considered one of the most reliable measures of body fat However, the researchers found that the CM method was less accurate when measuring females with larger waists.

This means that the accuracy of the CM method varies depending on body fat distribution. Circumference measurement CM involves taking circumference measurements at specific sites on the body and entering the averages into an equation to estimate body fat percentage.

If you are preoccupied with food or your weight, feel guilt surrounding your food choices, or routinely worry about your body measurements, consider reaching out for support. These behaviors may indicate a disordered relationship with food or an eating disorder.

Disordered eating and eating disorders can affect anyone, regardless of gender identity, race, age, socioeconomic status, or other identities.

They can be caused by any combination of biological, social, cultural, and environmental factors — not just by exposure to diet culture. Body fat scales or smart scales are popular amongst those who want an easy way to monitor their body composition regularly at home.

Unlike traditional scales that only measure body weight, body fat scales combine weight scales with something called a foot-to-foot impedance meter FFI The FFI estimates body fat and muscle mass by sending electrical currents to the body and measuring the response.

Muscle and fat respond differently to electrical currents, and the scale uses these differences to determine body fat. Even though this method is one of the simplest ways to estimate body fat in a home setting, there are some drawbacks to using smart scales.

A study compared the accuracy of three smart scales in measuring body weight and composition in underweight, normal weight, and overweight adults against DEXA.

The researchers found that although body weight was accurately measured by the scales, body fat was underestimated One of the issues with smart scales is that their accuracy depends on the body composition of the population used to train the smart scale during production.

Plus, accuracy can vary widely between smart scale models Smart scales use a foot-to-foot impedance meter FFI to measure body composition. They can be used as an at-home method for body fat measurement, but their accuracy varies significantly.

Measuring your waist circumference can give you an idea of your body fat levels and whether or not you have a high amount of body fat stored around your midsection Carrying high amounts of fat in your midsection can significantly increase your risk of developing a number of health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and more Knowing your waist circumference can help you determine if you have too much fat stored around your midsection.

All you need to do is to place a non-stretch tape measure around your midsection above your hip bones, making sure the tape measure is horizontal around your waist.

Keep the tape measure snug, but make sure to avoid compressing the skin In order to reduce the risk of many health conditions, health organizations recommend that waist circumference be kept below a certain measurement For example, those of Asian descent have lower waist circumference cut off values compared to those of European descent Waist circumference measurement is an easy way to assess body fat levels in your midsection.

However, these methods are typically much less reliable compared to methods used in clinical settings like DEXA. If you have questions about your body composition, including healthy body fat levels for your age, sex, and ethnicity, reach out to a trusted healthcare professional for advice.

Try this today : Body fat levels vary significant depending on factors like age, sex, and ethnicity. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

VIEW ALL HISTORY. This article…. Smart scales measure not only your weight but also your muscle mass, body fat percentage, and several other health metrics.

Learn about how to calculate BMI for men, the recommended BMI range, and the limitations of BMI as an indicator of…. Body fat scales can be an easy way to track body composition, but research debates their accuracy. Here, learn about body fat scales and the best…. Sustainable weight management involves eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and engaging in stress-reducing techniques.

Learn more. Pannus stomach occurs when excess skin and fat hang down from the abdomen. Pregnancy and weight loss can cause pannus stomach. Find out more. My podcast changed me Can 'biological race' explain disparities in health? Why Parkinson's research is zooming in on the gut Tools General Health Drugs A-Z Health Hubs Health Tools Find a Doctor BMI Calculators and Charts Blood Pressure Chart: Ranges and Guide Breast Cancer: Self-Examination Guide Sleep Calculator Quizzes RA Myths vs Facts Type 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood Sugar Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction Connect About Medical News Today Who We Are Our Editorial Process Content Integrity Conscious Language Newsletters Sign Up Follow Us.

Medical News Today. Health Conditions Health Products Discover Tools Connect. What ways are there to measure body fat?

Medically reviewed by Daniel Bubnis, M. Skinfolds Circumference Scales DEXA Hydrodensitometry Air displacement plethysmography 3D body scanners Healthy ranges Summary There are various ways to measure body fat.

Skinfold measurements. Share on Pinterest A person can estimate their body fat percentage by measuring the thickness of skinfolds in different areas of the body. Circumference measurements.

Body fat scales. Share on Pinterest There are a number of bathroom scales available that can estimate body fat percentage. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry DEXA. Air displacement plethysmography. Healthy ranges. How we reviewed this article: Sources. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations.

We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles.

You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Share this article. Latest news Ovarian tissue freezing may help delay, and even prevent menopause. RSV vaccine errors in babies, pregnant people: Should you be worried?

Scientists discover biological mechanism of hearing loss caused by loud noise — and find a way to prevent it. How gastric bypass surgery can help with type 2 diabetes remission.

Atlantic diet may help prevent metabolic syndrome.