effective way to measure body fat?

[fargomom]

Do scales that measure your body fat work? What's the most accurate at-home way to measure? Any brands or models you would recommend?

It's been ages since I've had mine measured. I think since high school! And this year is my 10-year reunion, so you do the math. haha. I'm slim in that I wear a size 2 or 4 and have been working out regularly. Slowly getting to where I want to be, but I can pinch an inch and then some, especially in abdomen and upper thigh areas. Abdomen is due partly to having 2 kids I'm sure, ..... anyhoo! I think I'm a candidate for being skinny fat and I would be interested to find out my body fat and would appreciate any help.

Kara

 

[tneah]

Oh dear. The handhelds are sketchy at best I think.

If you really want accurate readings in my opinion you have to do it in a dunk tank, in other words underwater weighing...or go get the Dex scan done, its pricey but gives you useful information about your bone density as well as your bodyfat which is nice.

The calipers are ok, but you really need to have someone who knows what they are doing take your measurements, and then they really need to measure at least 7 sites for your overall reading to be accurate.

Just my 2 cents, I tossed my scale/bodyfat deal because it was all over the map every other day, and it messed with my head.

 

[LeanneM]

Like Tneah said, getting a DEXA (or DXA) scan is probably best. I had one done last week actually, and was shocked (and not in a good way! ;-) ) at how different my body fat really is, compared to the readings I'd been getting on my scale and with my hand-held device. I've also been using calipers, but was measuring at the wrong place.

I did a Google search to find a place near me that does the DEXA scan, and, as part of the testing, the machine also gives you a reading of what your bone density is like.

Hope this helps!