A regular bathroom scale will measure your weight, but it won’t tell you how much of it is fat. Individuals with a relatively low body weight can have excessive fat levels; conversely, people who weigh more may not be very fat at all. Most of us are interested in losing fat, not lean muscle mass, bone, or fluids, so methods have been developed to more specifically measure fat levels. Below are two methods which are used to measure percentage of body fat, which can then be compared to figures in your gender and age group. Other parameters for comparison include height and fitness level. These methods are usually available at fitness clubs, and units for home use are available for sale.

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA)

A low-level electrical current is passed through the body. This method is based on comparing the different rates at which the current is conducted in different tissue. Fluid will conduct electricity more than fat. The higher the fat, the greater the impedance. This method can also be used to measure an individual’s fluid/hydration levels. BIA can be measured by underwater weighing or a more recent and convenient method, the body fat monitor/analyzer; units designed for home use, such as those made by Tanita, resemble bathroom scales, and begin and well under $50.

Skinfold Caliper Measurements

This method has been used since the early 1900’s. The calipers, which are either marked or have digital readouts, measure the thickness of several fatty areas on the body. The measurements are then totaled; this figure is then used to estimate total body fat percentage, which can be compared to others by age and gender. This method is less convenient and subject to more variability in measuring technique than BIA.

Reference charts are widely used for comparison purposes. As an example, an “excellent” rating is given to females aged 30-34 with a body fat percentage of 19.7-22.7; “good” is up to 22.7-26.4%, “fair” is 26.4-30.5%.

For men aged 30-34, “excellent” is 14.5-18%, “good” is 18-21.5%, “fair” is 21.5-25.2%.