Sports medicine centers, hospital-based wellness programs and universities with an exercise science program typically offer hydrostatic weighing. A new technology, this method requires that you sit in an enclosed capsule for about a minute while computer sensors measure the amount of air displaced by your body. Although fast and easy, the method can be expensive and is not yet widely available. Check universities and athletic facilities serving professional and collegiate athletes. A tester uses calipers to pinch and measure the fat located right under the skin on several parts of the body, usually the abdomen, thigh, hip, and the back of the arm and shoulder.
Serial measurements can monitor changes in body composition over time.
In this technique, a mild electrical current is passed through the body. Quick and painless, BIA is offered routinely at fitness clubs and health fairs. Be aware that it tends to overestimate body fat percentage in lean individuals, and that fluid changes, such as being dehydrated, can skew the measurements. For best results, avoid alcohol and caffeine for 24 hours, don t exercise for 12 hours and don t eat or drink for four hours prior to the test. As with weight, aim to be within a healthy range rather than obsessing over the exact number and fretting about slight variations over time.