Among 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.

Instructions:
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"

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The original formula takes age in to account by having seperate formulas for different age categories. This however gave som abrupt changes in the results whe going from one age category to another. Also, the reference material for som of the older groups was rather small. We have therefore chosen to use only the formula for the interval 20-29 years. This means that if you are older and unfit, your fat percentage will probably be underestimatet.

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.

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