Using Skinfolds and Age
to Estimate Male Percent Body Fat

NOTE: Using skinfolds to estimate percent body fat is more accurate than the Department of Defense tape measure method only when performed by a skilled and experienced technician. Otherwise, the tape measure method is preferred.

Procedure

Measure skinfolds at the 3 sites described below. To make a measurement, a pinch is made of the skin and underlying fat such that a double layer of skin and fat is between the fingers. The caliper jaws are then placed around the fold adjacent to the finger pinch. The jaws are released and the device squeezes the double layer with a calibrated pressure. A reading of the layer's thickness in millimeters is taken immediately to avoid excessive compression. Usually, 2-3 measurements are made in succession, allowing the skin to recover in between, and the most consistent measurement is used.

The Measurement Sites:

• Chest: Measure a skinfold at the halfway point of a line between the armpit and nipple, with the caliper jaws perpendicular to the line.


• Abdomen: Measure a vertical skinfold one inch lateral to the navel.


• Thigh: Measure a vertical skinfold on the front of the thigh at the halfway point between the hip and knee.

Estimating Percent Body Fat: Sum the three skinfolds. Enter the table below with the skinfold sum and the subject's age to determine estimated percent body fat. Age is a factor in the table because, as men age, fat is increasingly deposited in the omentum beneath the abdominal muscles where it cannot be detected by skinfolds.

Skinfolds > Body Composition

Skinfolds > Home