The most convenient method for measuring bodyfat is the use of skinfold calipers. While these calipers are modestly accurate, they are often criticized as being less accurate than calipers using metal springs. These calipers are predominantly plastic but have precision metal springs designed to place the proper amount of pressure on the skinfold. Rather than squeezing these calipers together, they are squeezed open, and the spring pressure then closes them to the proper pressure.
Skinfold measurement requires a little practice.
If you wish, you can take five measurements at each site and exclude the highest and lowest measurements. The jaws of the calipers should be placed closely to the fingertips so that a true reading can be obtained of the amount of fat squeezed between the fingers. Detailed photographs of the proper methods for taking skinfold measurements at various sites may be found at Lyle McDonald's Body Composition Page . The measurement sites, for both men and women, are shown and described on the screen of the appropriate bodyfat calculator. The bodyfat calculators below are designed to work with Netscape Navigator 3.0 or better, or with Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 or better.