There are several methods used to determine how much fat is on the body. Health and fitness professionals use hydrostatic weighing, bioelectrical impedance, and skin fold assessment to assess individual body fat. When using skin fold assessment, three to seven areas on the body are pinched with skin fold calipers and each skin fold measurement is put into a formula to determine percentage of body fat. Determining the body fat present in one particular area such as the waist is difficult but you can keep track of the skin fold measurement and note how the number changes in that area with weight loss.
Step 1
Wipe the waist area with an alcohol wipe to remove all lotions and creams.
Step 2
Stand in front of a mirror. Trace an imaginary line from under the right armpit to the top of the right hip bone. Place a small vertical line on the top of the hip bone at that point with the non-toxic marker. This is the midaxillary line.
Step 3
Locate the top portion of the hip bone. Draw a horizontal line across the top of the hip bone. This is the iliac crest.
Step 4
Draw an intersecting line at the area where the iliac crest and midaxillary line meet. This area is the suprailiac skin fold on the side of the waist where you will take the skin fold measurement.
Step 5
Pick up the skin fold calipers and hold them where you can see the millimeter reading on the top of the calipers.
Step 6
Grab a fold of skin at the suprailiac area with the forefinger and the thumb. Place the calipers around this skin fold. Read the calipers for one to two seconds, no longer. Write the skin fold measurement on a piece of paper.
Step 7
Measure this area two additional times and write those measurements down.
Step 8
Enter all three numbers into the calculator and divide by three. Record the average of the three numbers on a sheet of paper. This is your body fat waist measurement.
Tips and Warnings
- Hire a certified fitness professional to determine overall body fat.
Things You'll Need
- Alcohol wipe
- Mirror
- Non-toxic washable marker
- Skin fold calipers
- Calculator
- Paper
References
- "ACSM's Resource for the Personal Trainer, 2nd edition"; American College of Sports Medicine; 2006
- "Fitness and Health, 5th edition"; Brian J. Sharkey PhD, 2002.
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