ESTIMATING % BODY FAT: HERE'S HOW IT'S DONE

Todd Misener, Assistant Health & Fitness Lab Director

The methods of body composition assessment that are available at The Health & Fitness Lab are:

Skinfold Measurement with calipers
Bio-Electrical Impedance
Hydrostatic Weighing

The Skinfold Measurement and the Bio-Electrical Impedance methods are available to members of the Preston Center free of charge. Appointments for body composition assessments are appreciated but not always necessary. We at the Lab ask that you wear shorts and a T-shirt for the assessment.
The Lab is staffed by fitness professionals and student workers. The Lab student workers have been trained to perform both the Skinfold Measurement and the Bio-Electrical Impedance methods by the professional staff.
The Skinfold Measurement method is the most often used method at the Lab, it is very accurate if done by a trained individual.
The Bio-Electrical Impedance is also a valid method of testing body composition, it is non invasive and is better suited for people with higher percentages of body fat or those who would fell uncomfortable with having Skinfold measurements taken.
The Hydrostatic Weighing method can be the most accurate method if done correctly. The accuracy of the test is highly dependent of the person being tested. They must be very comfortable in water, and able to last for up to 20 seconds underwater after expiring all available air from their lungs. The results from both the Skinfold Measurement and the Hydrostatic Weighing methods have been shown to correlate highly when the Skinfold measures are done correctly.

              Recommended body fat percentages
 
			Men                                                    Women
	        Above Recommended: >16%	          Above Recommended: >23%
	        Recommended: 16%-12%		Recommended: 23 - 20%
	        Lean:  < 12%				Lean: 19 - 12%

By no means are body fat norms indicators of a level of physical fitness, we highly recommend that regardless of your body fat percentage that you lead a healthy active lifestyle which would include eating right and exercising regularly. By leading a healthy active lifestyle you can attain a healthy body fat percentage rating, and only through a healthy diet and exercise will you maintain a healthy body.
If you would like to learn how to best achieve your recommended body composition and/or how to achieve your fitness goals. Stop by the Health & Fitness lab and set up an appointment to talk with one of the health and fitness professionals.
The Health & Fitness Lab is open M-F from 8am-6pm. The Lab is staffed with fitness professionals with a wide array of expertise. You are encouraged to stop by the Lab and take advantage of the many services offered by the Lab which include, fitness testing, nutritional analysis, massage, fitness consulting, personal wellness profiles, blood pressure screening, specialized instructional programs, etc. Feel free to call us at 745-6531 for an appointment or if you have any questions.