Fitness Testing
Fitness Testing > Tests > Anthropometry > Body Composition > % Bodyfat
Calculating % Bodyfat
A person’s body composition is usually didvided into lean body weight and fat weight. Your fat weight can be expressed as a percentage of your total body weight by using the following formula:
body fat percentage (BF%) = (fat weight ÷ total body weight) x 100
BF% from Skinfold Measurements
There are literally hundreds of equations available for converting skinfold measurements to a percent body fat measure (for converting % to rating scores, see here). It is best to use a formula that is based on a population sample that most closely resembles the person who is measured. Use these equations with caution, as you will find that you get different results depending on which equation you use and the accuracy can not be guaranteed. The skinfold sites used for these equations may not be exactly the same as described on this site - refer to the original source if you require accurate results.
Yuhasz Equation for Males:
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% Body Fat = (0.1051 x sum of triceps, subscapular, supraspinale, abdominal, thigh, calf) + 2.585, based on a sample of college students.
Yuhasz Equation for Females:
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% Body Fat = (0.1548 x sum of triceps, subscapular, supraspinale, abdominal, thigh, calf) + 3.580, based on a sample of college students.
BF% from Body Density Measurements
Many body compostion equations derive their measure of percent body fat from first determining body density. Skinfold measures are used to calculate density using these Body Density Formula. Once body denisty is determined, percent bodyfat (%BF) can be calculated using the Siri Equation:
% Body Fat = (495 / Body Density) - 450.
Related Pages
- measuring body density using underwater weighing
- equations for body density
- Skinfold measurement techniques
- About body composition tests
- Anthropometry
- Skinfold Measurement Sites
