Skinfold Body Fat Calculator

Your body density measures how much weight you take up per square inch of space. It can be useful if you plan to use it in equations to calculate per cent body fat. An individual's body fat percentage is calculated by dividing the total mass of fat by the total body mass, multiplied by 100. Body fat includes essential body fat and storage body fat. Essential body fat is important for life and reproduction.

What are the Percent Body Fat Norms for Men and Women?

An unhealthy amount of body fat is linked to conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, while a lack of body fat has been shown to affect fertility, immunity, and heart health. Women are typically slightly heavier than men when it comes to body fat. With Age, the ideal body fat percentage will also change.

The ideal fat percentage for men & women is given below:

Steps to Know of Percent Body Fat Using Skinfold Measurements

• Identify where the skinfold is anatomically located & take measurements of all skinfolds on the right side of the body. 
• The following seven skinfold measurements should be taken in millimetres: chest, midaxillary, triceps, subscapular, abdominal and thigh.
• Grasp the skinfold strongly with the thumb and index finger of the left hand. With the callipers perpendicular to the site, position the calliper's pads approximately 1/4 inch apart. & take the measurement to the nearest 0.5 mm mark.
• Calculate the sum of all 7 measurements. & use Jackson & Pollock Equation to find the body density (BD).

Body Fat Percentage Formula | Body Fat Formula

For Males:

BD = 1.112 − (0.00043499 × S) + (0.00000055 × S2) − (0.00028826 × A)

For Females:

BD = 1.097 − (0.00046971 × S) + (0.00000056 × S2) − (0.00012828 × A)

Here, BD is body density, 

S is the total addition of your skinfold measurements (in mm)

A is age of a person (in years).

1. After determining your body density, use the Siri equation to determine your body fat percentage

Body Fat percentage = (4.95 / BD − 4.50) × 100

Solved Examples of Body Fat Percentage

Example:

Alex is a 53-year-old male. He has a sum of seven skinfold measurements is 120 mm. Calculate his body fat percentage.

Solution:

Here, we know, sum, s = 120mm & age, A = 53 years

As this person is male, we will first calculate body density using formula 

Body density BD = 1.112 − (0.00043499 × S) + (0.00000055 × S2) − (0.00028826 × A) 

 = 1.052

Now, to calculate the body fat, 

 Body Fat percentage = (4.95 / BD − 4.50) × 100 = 20.334 %

Visit onlinecalculator.guide to learn about the many calculators available and to conduct simple calculations.

FAQs on Skinfold Body Fat Calculator

1. What are the advantages of the skinfold test?

The major advantage of the skinfold test is that it is very helpful in assessing body composition and is a lot simpler than many of the other body composition techniques.

2. What is the skinfold thickness test?

The skinfold thickness test is the measurement of the thickness of fat deposited at the various body parts. This technique helps in the estimation of body fat at all ages including the newborn period.

3. Are skinfold measurements accurate?

Several times the errors have been spotted during skinfold measurements, but it had been found that trainers who practice frequently can obtain up to 98% accurateness in the skinfold measurements. 

4. What factors can affect skinfold thickness measurements?

The skinfold thickness evolutes at varying rates with age, weight change, diseases, pregnancy and menopause.