

While often believed to be the most accurate method of estimating body fat percentage, DEXA is roughly equal to air-displacement plethysmography, hydrostatic weighing, and 3D body scanning technology. This approach requires very specialized equipment and training, and some-states require licensure to use DEXA technology due to the radiographic nature of the equipment. Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry: Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry, commonly referred to as DEXA (DEXA) utilizes specialized machines that have different types of X-rays which can measure differences in density of tissue.These technologies show relatively similar accuracy to other measures such as bioelectrical impedance, hydrostatic weighing, and air-displacement plethysmography with error rates between 3-10% depending on the instrument used. These technologies utilize laser capture technology to measure anthropometrics and estimate body composition. 3D Body Scan: A new, emerging technology that is becoming more readily available are three-dimensional (3D) body scans.It is roughly similar in terms of accuracy as hydrostatic weighing (hydrostatic weighing is slightly more accurate) but is substantially cheaper and easier to perform.

However, instead of displacing water, this method displaces air.

However, this approach is expensive and requires very specialized equipment and training. Hydrostatic Weighing: Hydrostatic weighing, also known as underwater weighing, is one of the more accurate forms of body composition assessment with error rates being between 2-5% for most apparatuses.Interestingly, waist to weight ratio appears to be the most accurate (Dong et al., 2018). There are good data to show how well different measures correlate to body fat percentages. More specifically things such as waist-to-hip ratios, waist-to-height ratios, and neck circumferences are ways to estimate body composition. Body Circumference: Another very accessible and easy to perform method of estimating body composition is through measuring body circumference.As such, it is difficult to be certain of changes of <5% of body fat. While easy to perform, this method requires a substantial amount of training and has a pretty high error rate, with up to 10-15% error rates reported in some studies.
#Bmr calculator body fat skin
This method relies on precisely built and calibrated calipers that measure skin thickness in millimeters. This layer is known as the subcutaneous fat layer.

50% OFF! Certified Sports Nutrition Coach (CSNC).50% OFF! Certified Nutrition Coach (CNC).$300 OFF! Enroll in a Personal Trainer Program.
