Measurements are taken at either 3 or 7 different sites on the body. The bod pod taps into adp technology air displacement plethysmography if you want to get fancy which uses air displacement to measure body volume and calculates lean and fat mass.
Measuring Body Fat With Hydrostatic Underwater Weighing
What is the best device to measure body fat. Depending on the circumstances options may include. Dexa dxa scan. Fitted with leading edge technology weight gurus flagship offering is perfect if youre looking for body fat scales. The best way to measure total body fat using bioelectrical impedance is with a step on model that has hand grips. The technician doing the test first pinches the skin. Here are the top 5 ways to measure your body fat percentage.
While this method for measuring body fat is a relatively cheap optionyou can find scales like this one for as little as 1999 at any department store and you can use them in the privacy of your own. Bioelectrical impedance really only gives estimates but its a great method for quickly checking trends over a period of time. Then he or she uses the skin caliper device to measure the thickness of the skin fold for each site. Skinfold calipers measure the thickness of your subcutaneous fat the fat underneath the skin at certain body locations. The most precise and comprehensive method it provides regional body fat data. 3underwater hydrostatic weighing.
The tanita made famous by the biggest loser is a body fat percentage scale that uses bioelectrical impedance bia to gauge the amount of lean mass water and fat in your body by sending a current from the metal plates under your feet through your body and timing how long it takes. The thickness at each site is recorded and used to determine levels of body fat in these areas which gives an idea of body fat percentage on the whole. These devices are used to pinch the tissue in key areas of the body. It provides detailed information about the ratio between fat muscle and. Each protocol has specific sites for testing commonly including the chest arms abs and thighs. After plugging the numbers into a formula practitioners can estimate body fat percentage.
With this technique youre enclosed in a computerized. It records your body mass index bmi muscle mass and even the weight of the water in your body so youll get the detailed information you need. Dual energy x ray absorptiometry dxa. The grips measure both upper and lower body fat composition. Skin calipers are the most common method of measuring body fat. Dxa is a specialized x ray exam.