Tape measure for bodyfat % - UK-Muscle Body Building Community

mant01 · 12-04-2007, 01:56 PM

I did one of those online bodyfat measuring things where it tells you different parts of your body to use a tape measure on and gives you your bodyfat % from the result. But how good is this method at giving you your true reading? It came out with a different result to my scales.

invisiblekid · 12-04-2007, 02:54 PM

I'd say massively inaccurate! Callipers are the way forward.

Delhi · 12-04-2007, 03:45 PM

Scales are wrong (Even the expensive ones) because they are all calibrated with averages, and since BBers are not average the result is always out.
For a similar reason the tape measure is also inaccurate.

A good option is calipers, but even then it has to be a good set and used by someone who knows what they are doing.

The best option is to have it measured in a pool of water (Possibly your local University does it), but this can be expensive and is not very common.

Failing that look in the mirror or post up your pics and get people on here to have a guestimate.

Jock · 12-04-2007, 04:47 PM

You can buy a pair of calipers for about £10 mate, online calculators take no account of body composition.

mant01 · 13-04-2007, 03:34 PM

I wasnt really bothered about the exact bodyfat just as close I can get to give me a guide. The ones Ive got from different sites range from 16% down to 13% and obviously thats a big difference. I'm thinking I'll be closer to 13% than the 16% and I'm really after getting to 9% so its abit of a ****. I'm Just starting to see some shape to my top 4 stomach muscles in the right light, but what gets me is I lost 20lbs and my scales only say I lost 1% of bodyfat which cant be right. I'll post a picture when I lose another 7-14lbs and let you guys give me an estimate.

andye · 14-04-2007, 09:29 PM

i have some tanita scales which are apparently the better ones but im still around 20% on them lol although ive got a 32 inch waist now and the calipers say im 10%

the scales are ****e mate, bin them.

Spangle1187 · 14-04-2007, 09:39 PM

I had a go at an online body mass indicator thingey, and tbh absolute rubbish, I came out as being obese and I am not abese. Too many averages, and I am sure that most people if not all are far from average!

12-04-2007, 01:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
mant01 lift till I break Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Durham Posts: 134	Tape measure for bodyfat % I did one of those online bodyfat measuring things where it tells you different parts of your body to use a tape measure on and gives you your bodyfat % from the result. But how good is this method at giving you your true reading? It came out with a different result to my scales.

12-04-2007, 02:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
invisiblekid Hitman Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 1,536	Re: Tape measure for bodyfat % I'd say massively inaccurate! Callipers are the way forward.

12-04-2007, 03:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
Delhi Bigger, Better, Stronger Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: North Posts: 1,962	Re: Tape measure for bodyfat % Scales are wrong (Even the expensive ones) because they are all calibrated with averages, and since BBers are not average the result is always out. For a similar reason the tape measure is also inaccurate. A good option is calipers, but even then it has to be a good set and used by someone who knows what they are doing. The best option is to have it measured in a pool of water (Possibly your local University does it), but this can be expensive and is not very common. Failing that look in the mirror or post up your pics and get people on here to have a guestimate.

12-04-2007, 04:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jock LEAGUE LEGEND! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: UK Posts: 3,082	Re: Tape measure for bodyfat % You can buy a pair of calipers for about £10 mate, online calculators take no account of body composition.

13-04-2007, 03:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
mant01 lift till I break Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Durham Posts: 134	Re: Tape measure for bodyfat % I wasnt really bothered about the exact bodyfat just as close I can get to give me a guide. The ones Ive got from different sites range from 16% down to 13% and obviously thats a big difference. I'm thinking I'll be closer to 13% than the 16% and I'm really after getting to 9% so its abit of a ****. I'm Just starting to see some shape to my top 4 stomach muscles in the right light, but what gets me is I lost 20lbs and my scales only say I lost 1% of bodyfat which cant be right. I'll post a picture when I lose another 7-14lbs and let you guys give me an estimate.

14-04-2007, 09:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
andye 15 stone 10lb Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: hartlepool, north east england Posts: 673	Re: Tape measure for bodyfat % i have some tanita scales which are apparently the better ones but im still around 20% on them lol although ive got a 32 inch waist now and the calipers say im 10% the scales are ****e mate, bin them.

14-04-2007, 09:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
Spangle1187 Getting bigger Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Greenwich Posts: 387	Re: Tape measure for bodyfat % I had a go at an online body mass indicator thingey, and tbh absolute rubbish, I came out as being obese and I am not abese. Too many averages, and I am sure that most people if not all are far from average!