Body fat - Skinfold - Durnin and Womersley Print E-mail
durnin and womersley skinfoldAmong affordable methods for measuring body fat percentage, using a skinfold caliper is still the best and the 4 spot formula by Durnin and Womersley is very accurate for most people.

Among affordable methods for measuring body fat percentage, using a skinfold caliper is still the best and the four spot formula by Durnin and Womersley is very accurate for most people.

Skinfold spotsInstructions:
1. Measure skinfold in millimeters as indicated on the pictures and enter values.
2. For further instructions see our guide "How to measure body fat with a skinfold caliper"

Background

The Durnin & Womersley calculation should be considered valid for people between 17 and 68 years old.

References

Durnin JVGA, Womersley J. Body fat assessed from total body density and its estimation from skinfold thickness: measurements on 481 men and women aged from 16 to 72 years. Br J Nutrition. 1974; 32: 77-97.

Siri WE. The gross composition of the body. pages 239-280. IN: Lawrence JH, Tobias CA (editors). Advances in Biological and Medical Physics. Academic Press, Inc. Advances in Biological and Medical Physics. 1956; 4: 239-280.

Comments (14)add comment

Morten Z said:

The calculator has now been updated so that age affects the result correctly. Also, an evaluation of the result has been included in the calculator.
July 30, 2010

Mike said:

Calculator is not loading onto computer. Help?
July 24, 2010

kalku1 said:

La variable edad no influye en el resultado del porcentaje de grasa corporal. Por favor revisar este detalle para que sea efectivamente util esta aplicación.
April 30, 2010

emmanuel a said:

great job. i need an equation for percentage body fat, lean body mass and total boby fat with standards to intrepret my the result for male adolescent
March 25, 2010

emmanuel A said:

how can iintrerpret the result of body fat and lean boby mass
March 25, 2010

Jon Mc. said:

Here is the Durnin & Womersley complete formulas:
Calculation of Body Density According to the method of Durnin & Womersley
(Biceps, Triceps, Subscapula, and Suprailiac)

Equations for Men
Age range
17-19D = 1.1620 – 0.0630 x (log ∑)
20-29D = 1.1631 – 0.0632 x (log ∑)
30-39D = 1.1422 – 0.0544 x (log ∑)
40-49D = 1.1620 – 0.0700 x (log ∑)
50+D = 1.1715 – 0.0779 x (log ∑)

Equations for Women
Age range
17-19D = 1.1549 – 0.0678 x (log ∑)
20-29D = 1.1599 – 0.0717 x (log ∑)
30-39D = 1.1423 – 0.0632 x (log ∑)
40-49D = 1.1333 – 0.0612 x (log ∑)
50+D = 1.1339 – 0.0645 x (log ∑)

Race
American Indian18-60Female(4.81/Db)-4.34
Black 18-32Male(4.37/Db)-3.93
24-79Female(4.85/Db)-4.39
Hispanic20-40Female(4.87/Db)-4.41
Japanese Native18-48Male(4.97/Db)-4.52
Female(4.76/Db)-4.28
61-78Male(4.87/Db)-4.41
Female(4.95/Db)-4.50
White 7-12Male(5.30/Db)-4.89
Female(5.35/Db)-4.95
13-16Male(5.07/Db)-4.64
Female(5.10/Db)-4.66
17-19Male(4.99/Db)-4.55
Female(5.05/Db)-4.62
20-80Male(4.95/Db)-4.50
Female(5.01/Db)-4.57
Levels of Body Fatness
Anorexia15-30Female(5.26/Db)-4.83
Obese 17-62Male(5.00/Db)-4.56
Athletes*High school and college age Male and female(4.57/Db)-4.142

I hope this is detailed enough for everyone.
December 31, 2009

kerim said:

this is the formula of durnin/Womersley;
S = Sum of all four folds
A = age in years
d = 1,1714 - 0.063 * log(S) - 0.000406*A
Bodyfat [%] = 495 / d - 450
December 15, 2009

charles olivier said:

What is the formulae for this body fat estimation?
November 17, 2009

RG said:

How can I interprete the results of o;dy fat and lean body mass?
October 22, 2009

RG said:

Which caliper is recommended? Lange or Harpenden? Because they have different compressiblility...
Where I can get the formula for D&W equation?
Thanks,
October 22, 2009

Morten Z said:

Image updated :-)
September 29, 2009

Morten Z said:

Thanks for the comment - never gave that a thought. I will change it ASAP.
September 22, 2009

Dr. Dan said:

I really like your web site, but I couldn't use it for my health class because you had to use a model with BIG breasts and nipples. Freshman high school students just can't separate science and nudes. Let me know of any changes. Thanks.
September 22, 2009


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