This is a deliberate insertion intended to adjust and increase the equation’s accuracy. Notice how age is an important variable in the equation. The equation looks like this (emphasis added):īody Density = 1.112 – (0.00043499 x sum of skinfolds) + (0.00000055 x square of the sum of skinfold sites) – (0.00028826 x age) The Jackson-Pollock Equation is frequently used to measure body density and is typically the first step to determining body composition. But in order to turn the measurements into a fat percentage, two equations need to be used – one to calculate density and one to change density into body fat percentage. #3: Caliper Results Take Empirical Estimations Into Account, Particularly AgeĬalipers use the sum of skinfold measurements to report body fat percentage. Depending on skinfold thickness, taking a reading immediately after pinching can distort the results.
#PINCH TEST BODY FAT CALCULATOR SKIN#
This allows the skin to compress properly for an accurate reading. For instance, the CDC’s guidelines dictate that a reading can only be taken after pinching, holding, and waiting for three seconds. Proper technique extends beyond handling the calipers. If these small but critical procedures are not followed, accuracy may drop. This is in contrast with how the jaws must be placed for the tricep pinch in this case, both jaws must be placed on either side of the X. However, just placing the X on the skin is only half the challenge.įor example, when pinching the subscapular (shoulder blade) site, the upper jaw must be placed directly on the X mark. These can be only properly placed if each site is marked with an X.
According to the Center for Disease Control ’s guidelines for caliper use, not only are there guidelines for locating each skinfold site, there are variances between how the jaws must be placed on each skinfold. Locating each site accurately is only the first hurdle to completing an accurate test. If you have two people with a different level of experience perform consecutive tests on the same person, the chances of getting a consistent accurate measurement drop significantly.
The abdominal site, for example, is 2 cm to the right of the belly button. You can’t just eyeball a location for accuracy, you must take the time to use a tape measurer to locate each site. The 7 sites on the body are shown here:Įach of these sites must be located precisely on the body, and an X should be drawn on the skin to ensure proper jaw placement. There are several different methods to perform a caliper test, but one of the more accurate versions is the 7-site test using the Jackson and Pollock equation for body density. #1: The results are heavily influenced by how accurately skinfold sites are located
If you are using calipers to measure body fat percentage, you should be aware of 4 factors that may affect the accuracy of the results. However, their convenience comes at a cost.
If the test is completed by a properly trained professional, they’re also a reliable way of measuring body fat change over time. They are relatively inexpensive, portable, and offer you a better assessment of your overall health and fitness than a scale or using an outdated measure like BMI. There are a lot of great things about calipers that make them convenient.