
Hold this position for a few seconds to account for ‘caliper creep.’ Then take note of the scale reading.

When it is all the way in, then you know that you are squeezing with the right intensity. On such models as the AccuMeasure calipers, there is a notch in the main frame of the caliper that the bulbous end of the arm slots into. Use your dominant thumb to press the caliper arm until it is fully depressed. The calipers should then be placed on the skinfold about an eighth of an inch above your fingers. Your goal is to pull the fat away from the muscle, and not to pull any portion of muscle tissue. Reach down with your thumb and forefinger until you feel the muscle.
#Caliper body fat skin
With the other hand, the tester should grab hold of the fold of skin in the testing area of the body, pinching in between the fingers. This is a guide to the strength of your closure over the skinfold. The thumb should be resting on the short arm that extends from the base.

The tester should hold the calipers in their dominant hand in an overhand grip position. Find a friend or family member who is able to do this consistently for you.
#Caliper body fat how to
How to Measure Body Fat With Calipersĭo not measure your own body fat percentage with calipers. So, even if the readings are off by a percentage point, the decrease (or increase) between readings will tell you whether what you are doing is working. In order to assess your progress to your fat loss goals, the most important factor is the difference between results.

The formula presupposes that 50 percent of the fat in the body lies directly under the skin.īody fat calipers can be purchased online for less than ten dollars. Once these are recorded, a simple formula allows you to work out your body fat percentage. They feature a movable scale that allows you to measure the thickness of folds of skin at strategic parts of your body. What are Body Fat Calipers?īody fat calipers are a plastic device that look a bit like a crab’s pincers. In this article we show you how, with the aid of a simple plastic device that you can pick up for less than ten bucks, you can accurately measure your body fat anytime, anywhere. The only reliable way to keep on track is with regular body fat testing. The problem with that is that the scale can’t differentiate between muscle and fat. When it comes to assessing their progress toward your body composition goals, most people are missing the boat. That’s because they rely on the scale as their arbiter of success. Learn how to accurately measure you body fat percentage at home with a pair of calipers
