How Do You Measure Body Fat Skin Fold Test?
The skin fold test is not the most accurate way of measuring body fat. But, if performed by a trained professional, it can yield reliable results. The purpose of measuring body fat is to get more specific information about your health and fitness than just what a measure of your total weight can provide. Because the skin fold test measures only a few spots on the body and estimates total body fat, it can typically be off by up to 6 percent. Have a personal trainer or someone else with experience measuring body fat with skin fold calipers pinch a double layer of skin above your bicep that contains the underlying fat, but not any of the muscle. Apply the skin fold calipers at right angles to the fold about one centimeter from the base of the fold. A measurement is taken in millimeters. Record the number. Using the same procedure described in steps 1 and 2, measure skin folds around the triceps, the subscapular (area just below the shoulder blade on your back), the iliac crest (area on yo
