Body fat calipers measure subcutaneous fat and are used by healthcare professionals and fitness trainers. They are not 100% accurate but can measure changes over time. Human error can affect results, and different formulas are used to calculate body fat percentage. Calipers are available in digital and manual versions at varying prices.
A body fat caliper is a portable instrument used by healthcare professionals to measure body fat stored subcutaneously or under the skin. Also known as a skinfold caliper, it can be used by personal trainers, trainers, or other fitness professionals to assess the amount of subcutaneous body fat an individual carries by pinching the skin and fat beneath it at various standardized sites on the body. . Body fat calipers are available in digital and manual models and are used in conjunction with body weight measurements taken on a scale to determine body composition.
Developed in the 1970s as a simple and inexpensive way to test for body fat, the skinfold test is based on an equation that factors caliper measurements in millimeters with weight and age to produce an estimate of percent fat. bodily. Because the body fat caliper cannot measure visceral fat or fat stored deep between the organs, it is not 100 percent accurate for measuring body composition. However, if used at regular intervals, such as every four to six weeks, it can measure changes in body fat over time with reasonable accuracy.
Human error can affect the results of a body fat caliper test. It is important that the same person perform the test each time. Another variable that can affect the reliability of these measurements is whether the person administering the test squeezes the exact same places with a constant amount of pressure, as human error can throw off the results.
Test methods commonly measure three to seven sites on the body and are based on a formula such as the Jackson-Pollock or Durnin-Womersly formula. In the Jackson-Pollock seven-site method, the body fat caliper is used to pinch fat on the triceps, the chest near the armpit, the side of the ribcage, the back at the bottom of the shoulder blade, the abdomen, the top of the hip bone, and the front of the thigh. Each measurement is taken twice for accuracy, and the average of the two measurements is recorded for each site. These numbers are plugged into the Jackson-Pollock formula, often with the help of a web-based body fat calculator, and a number is produced that represents the person’s percentage of body fat. This number is often accompanied by fat mass and fat-free mass, in pounds, since they correspond to the individual’s total body weight.
Body fat calipers are available for purchase online and at some medical retailers and can vary widely in price. Digital body fat calipers tend to be more expensive: Accu Fitness’ digital version of the Accu-Measure body fat caliper sells for $120, but calculates results immediately. Manual versions like the Lange skinfold caliper, the exception at $240, can sell for as little as $15 and offer similar precision.
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