The average male athlete has a body composition between 6 and 12 percent fat, and female athletes have a body composition between 12 and 20 percent. This measurement is used by athletes to find an optimal weight that maximizes performance and reduces the potential for injuries. Calculating body fat for athletes should be performed by trained professionals, such as certified fitness trainers, strength coaches or team doctors. There are several techniques that can be used to determine body fat, but every technique calculates the amount percentage of lean muscle tissue and stored body fat.
Step 1
Calculate your body mass index --- BMI --- by measuring your body weight in pounds and height in inches. After measuring these two variables, multiply your body weight by 703 and then divide by your height squared. For example, a 6-foot-tall athlete weighing 200 lbs., has a BMI of 27.12 (200x703 / 72x72 = 27.12). Coaches and athletes commonly use BMI as a quick reference tool for determining overweight players during the preseason. One drawback of the BMI, however, is that it can skew results for heavily muscled athletes such as football linebackers, saying they are overweight.
Step 2
Take a three-site skinfold measurement. The three sites for male athletes include the chest, abdomen and thigh while the triceps, thigh and suprailium are the three sites for female athletes. The total amount of the skinfold measurement is used to calculate the athlete's percentage of body fat. Similar to the BMI, skinfold measurements are typically taken during preseason training camps to determine an athlete's body-fat percentage.
Step 3
Use bioelectrical impedance as a quick and easy way to track body fat each week. The bioelectrical impendence method measures body fat in athletes by sending bioelectrical impedance analysis through the body. An athlete can measure body fat in the locker room or weight room on a consistent basis throughout the season to monitor and track body fat.
Step 4
Complete an underwater weighing test --- commonly referred to as hydrostatic weighing. The underwater weighing method of measuring body fat in athletes is often considered the "gold standard" for body-composition analysis. An athlete is fully submerged into a small pool of water to measure body weight under water. The data is then compared with body weight on dry land to determine body-fat percentage.
Things You'll Need
- Scale
- Seamstress tape
- Skinfold calipers
- Underwater weighing equipment
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