Calipers VS. Body Fat Monitors? (2025)

SemperAnticus1643 Posts: 703 Member

June 2014 edited February 25 in Fitness and Exercise

The gym I used to go to does their body fat testing using calipers. Somehow I managed to make it through all the pinching and tickling to have the lady tell me that I was at 32.7% body fat. Started lifting and doing the SL 5x5 along with the coaching and playing with my kids.

Yesterday I went to another gym for the initial "trainer" appointment. He took my body fat % with one of those monitors. Very cool little gizmo. It said I am at 30.4%. That's a loss of 2.3% which I was really stoked about.

Here's my question: Do you think I could honestly say I lost 2.3% since it was 2 different ways of checking the % or should I just stick with one way for consistency purposes? (e.g. Go back and have someone use the calipers again or buy a monitor and continue to use that.)

Morgaath Posts: 679 Member

June 2014

The electronic gizmos are touchy. If you have eaten or drank in the 4hrs or so before, if you have done some exercise before hand (Such as a 5 min warm up)...these things can send the reading up or down.
The calipers...if you don't test fairly close to the same spot each time you can get totally different reading in minutes.
Here is the best thing to really tell...how do your clothes fit? Find a pair of pants, a belt, and a shirt that are tight now. Try them on, and then do it again in a month. Be really silly and take pics each time, so you can compare the changes over time.
ninerbuff Posts: 49,262 Member

June 2014

No because they are 2 different methods. Calipers (if done by an experienced person) are much more accurate than a bio impedance monitor.
The keys on body fat measurement accuracy is that the measurements should be done under the same conditions each time. That includes time of day, fasted, and same day of the week to track consistency. Usually mornings seem to be the best time since fasting is easy.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
VegasFit Posts: 1,232 Member

June 2014

I have a Tanita scale at home that does body fat too. I know it's not perfect but as I use it as a gauge and track where I am at number wise. That being said I think whatever method you decide you should stick with that choice and base it on those numbers whether that is the hand held or the calipers. Calipers are only as good as the person testing you. Two different trainers could come up with different numbers just based on their knowledge of using them.
spoiledpuppies Posts: 675 Member

June 2014

No.
I had my BF% measured on the same day with a bioelectric impedance scale (where I stood on a scale and held handles) and a DEXA scan (the most accurate measure). The BIA scale showed me at around 11%, while the DEXA had me at 15.9%. Different methods will give different results.
I asked the nurse at the time why were doing the scale at all since the DEXA is the most accurate. She said that it was only because the scale could be repeated anytime to watch trends, while I wouldn't be returning for a DEXA for months. (I use a BIA scale at my own gym about once per week, and the trend is that my BF% is decreasing. I trust the trend, but not the number. I'll be able to cross check again in August after my next DEXA.)

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Calipers VS. Body Fat Monitors? (2025)

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