Body Fat Measurements

[musclemaiden]

I just had my body fat tested at the gym and the personal trainer used only three readings with the caliper. One from the back of my arm (tricep area), one from my waist(just above my hip) and the other from my front thigh. She said that I had 15.9% body fat down from 17% three months ago (using the same areas).

I noticed in the "Horror Story with a Happy Ending" post she said they did 10 measurements. Does any know how accurate these tests are? And would measuring more areas make the results vary?

 

[Cathe Friedrich]

Hi Musclemaiden! Congratulations on your improvements.

These tests always have some degree of inaccuracy and I would only rely on them for a general gauge vs a true reading. However, the numbers you mentioned above are greatly different so you can be sure that your body fat has come down a good amount.

Also the measurment methods available in these caliper tests are only designed to be read from those three areas. I don't think results are available for a reading on any other area of the body.

 

[honeybunch]

This last time the personal trainer took the measurements from three sites...triceps, above the hip bone and the thigh, same as you.