Fat Caliper Help

Help

Rollover below for detailed instructions on how to use a caliper correctly.

How do I take body fat caliper measurements?Caliper Procedures
All calculator measurements should be made on the right side of the body

Caliper should be placed 1 cm away from thumb and finger, perpendicular to skinfold, and halfway between crest and base of fold

Pinch should be maintained while reading the caliper

Wait 1 to 2 s (and not longer) before reading caliper

Take duplicate measures at each site and retest if duplicate measurements are not within 1 to 2 mm

Rotate through measurement sites or allow time for skin to regain normal texture and thickness

Source: American College of Sports Medicine. ACSM's Guidelines For Exercise Testing and Prescription. 6th Edition. USA, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 2000.

Fat caliper measurement sites
Man body fat diagram
Images and video

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Tape Measure

Jackson/Pollock 7 Caliper Method

(mm)

ChestChestChest
Diagonal fold, midway between upper armpit and nipple

AbdominalAbdominalAbdominal
Vertical fold, one inch to the right of navel

ThighThighThigh
Vertical fold, midway between knee cap and top of thigh

TricepTricepTricep
Vertical fold, midway between elbow and shoulder

SubscapularSubscapularSubscapular
Diagonal fold, directly below shoulder blade

SuprailiacSuprailiacSuprailiac
Diagonal fold, directly above iliac crest

MidaxillaryMidaxillaryMidaxillary
Horizontal fold, directly below armpit

Jackson/Pollock 3 Caliper Method

(mm)

ChestChestChest
Diagonal fold, midway between upper armpit and nipple

AbdominalAbdominalAbdominal
Vertical fold, one inch to the right of navel

ThighThighThigh
Vertical fold, midway between knee cap and top of thigh

Jackson/Pollock 4 Caliper Method

(mm)

AbdominalAbdominalAbdominal
Vertical fold, one inch to the right of navel

ThighThighThigh
Vertical fold, midway between knee cap and top of thigh

TricepTricepTricep
Vertical fold, midway between elbow and shoulder

SuprailiacSuprailiacSuprailiac
Diagonal fold, directly above iliac crest

Parrillo Caliper Method

(mm)

ChestChest
Diagonal fold, midway between upper armpit and nipple

AbdominalAbdominalAbdominal
Vertical fold, one inch to the right of navel

ThighThighThigh
Vertical fold, midway between knee cap and top of thigh

BicepBicepBicep
Vertical fold, halfway between shoulder and elbow, directly on bicep

TricepTricepTricep
Vertical fold, midway between elbow and shoulder

SubscapularSubscapularSubscapular
Diagonal fold, directly below shoulder blade

SuprailiacSuprailiacSuprailiac
Diagonal fold, directly above iliac crest

Lower BackLower BackLower Back
Horizontal fold, directly over the kidneys, and 2 inches to the right of spine

CalfCalfCalf
Vertical fold, inside of leg on largest part of calf

Durnin/Womersley Caliper Method

(mm)

BicepBicepBicep
Vertical fold, halfway between shoulder and elbow, directly on bicep

TricepTricepTricep
Vertical fold, midway between elbow and shoulder

SubscapularSubscapularSubscapular
Diagonal fold, directly below shoulder blade

SuprailiacSuprailiacSuprailiac
Diagonal fold, directly above iliac crest

Navy Tape Measure Method

(inches/cm)

Height

NeckNeckNeck
Circumference of relaxed neck, with tape measure slightly down in front

AbdomenAbdomenAbdomen
Circumference just above the navel

Your Body Fat Composition Results

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Body Composition

Body Fat %:

Lbs/Kgs of Body Fat:

Lean Body Weight:

Body Fat Chart
Classification Women Men
Essential Fat 10-12% 2-4%
Athletes 14-20% 6-13%
Fitness 21-24% 14-17%
Acceptable 25-31% 18-25%
Obese 32% plus 25% plus
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Succeed with the help of Body Tracker for Windows.

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Body Tracker Desktop

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