Body fat calculators have long been used as a progress-tracking method for competitive athletes. Today, even recreational lifters and weekend warriors enjoy the motivation that body fat calculators can provide. Although body fat is typically measured with calipers, a small tool that pinches skin folds to measure fat content, several other methods can also provide accurate results.
Hydrostatic Weighing
Hydrostatic weighing, or underwater weighing, determines body fat by first measuring the volume of the body. The patient is initially weighed outside of a tank of water, then submerged in water and weighed again. This method is readily available to the public, but it may not be for everyone. Athletes and physically active people with denser bones, in addition to the elderly who have less bone density, may not produce precise readings. Because it does require the patient to be completely submerged in water, then blow all of the air out of the lungs, it is considered uncomfortable by many.
DEXA
The DEXA method of body fat testing--short for dual energy X-ray absorptiometry-- provides measurements of the body's mineral content, lean mass and fat mass. A full body scanner reads both bone and soft tissue mass and can take close to 20 minutes to complete. It's similar to an MRI in that the patient must remain still for the entire length of time, though it's not nearly as invasive. DEXA provides good precision and is quickly becoming a common method for measuring body fat.
Air Displacement
Many college kinesiology and exercise science departments are now offering another method for calculating body fat, commonly known as the bod pod. This giant egg-shaped pod measures air displacement in a sealed capsule to determine body fat percentage and lean muscle mass. While this method is fairly precise, the technology is limited.
Digital Scales
With advances in technology, many of the digital scales available today provide some sort of body fat measurement. The major benefit to calculating body fat with this method is convenience. It requires very little effort and can be done at any time, even several times per day if desired. Unfortunately, with the convenience comes sacrificed precision. These scales may not always provide the most precise measurements, but they are usually consistent. Consistency is all that's needed to track progress.
Considerations
Each of these methods for measuring body fat can get the job done, but the individual must decide which one's right for him. Some may prefer the most minimally invasive measurements, such as the digital scale, over the higher precision of the DEXA. On the other hand, those who want more precise measurements may be willing to sit through the more invasive procedures. Weigh the pros and cons of each before shelling out the money to have the procedure done.
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