Measure Body Fat with a Measuring Tape
General Body Fat Measuring Guidelines
- Measure next to skin when you can or in thin clothing.
- For increased accuracy, take 3 measurements and average them.
- Wear similar clothing each time you measure.
Measuring Body Fat for Women
- Neck
- Widest part beneath Adam’s apple
- Chest
- Widest part or in line with nipples under your armpits
- Take a couple of deep breaths. Measure at the end of your breath.
- Forearms (Left Right)
- Arm bent 90 degrees
- Widest part (or select a distance from the bend in your elbow and always measure that distance)
- Arms (Left Right)
- Arm bent 90 degrees
- Widest part un-flexed
- Waist
- Widest part or use belly button as reference
- Hips
- Widest part standing with feet touching together
- Thighs (Left Right)
- Put all weight on leg being measured (stand on one leg)
- Measure widest part
- Measure up from kneecap and measure that distance every time.
- Calves (Left Right)
- Put all the weight on the leg being measured (stand on one leg)
- Measure widest part
Measuring Body Fat for Men
- Neck
- Widest part beneath Adam’s apple
- Chest
- Widest part or in line with nipples under your armpits
- Take a couple of deep breaths. Measure at the end of your breath.
- Forearms (Left Right)
- Arm bent 90 degrees
- Widest part (or select a distance from the bend in your elbow and always measure that distance)
- Arms (Left Right)
- Arm bent 90 degrees
- Widest part un-flexed
- Waist
- Widest part or use belly button as reference
- Hips
- Widest part standing with feet touching together
- Thighs (Left Right)
- Put all weight on leg being measured (stand on one leg)
- Measure widest part
- Measure up from kneecap and measure that distance every time.
- Calves (Left Right)
- Put all the weight on the leg being measured (stand on one leg)
- Measure widest part