If you’re reading this, it’s because you want to know what your body fat percentage is.
And that means you’re probably searching to find the most accurate way to measure it, or calculate it, or test for it. Right?
Which means you’ve probably already come across at least one of the following options:
- Scales and handheld devices that use bioelectrical impedance (BIA).
- Skinfold testing with calipers.
- Online calculators.
- Hydrostatic weighing.
- Bod Pod.
- DEXA (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry).
Now I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there’s something you should know about every single one of these…
The Problem With All Body Fat Percentage Measurements
None of the methods we have for measuring body fat percentage – not even the fancy expensive ones – are perfectly accurate. In fact, they’re all capable of being significantly inaccurate.
This inaccuracy has been seen in plenty of studies (sources here