Predicting Body Fat from Girth
Measuring body fat percentage is an easy method of discovering correct body weight and composition. Beneath the skin is a layer of subcutaneous fat, and the percentage of total body fat can be measured by taking the girth measurements at selected points on the body with a measuring tape.
Measurement Sites
Depending on your age and gender three body measurements (sites) can be used for determining your percentage body fat.
Age (years) |
Gender |
Site A |
Site B |
Site C |
18 - 26 |
Male |
Right Upper Arm |
Abdomen |
Right Forearm |
Female |
Abdomen |
Right Thigh |
Right Forearm |
|
27 - 50 |
Male |
Buttocks |
Abdomen |
Right Forearm |
Female |
Abdomen |
Right Thigh |
Right Calf |
The measurement sites are as follows:
|
Method
The method is as follows:
- Based on your age range and gender determine the required three measurement sites from the table above
- Record the measurements in centimetres of these three sites (A, B, C)
- Use the calculator below to determine your percentage body fat
The calculations are based on the tables provided in "Essentials of Exercise Physiology, W.D. McArdle et al. Appendix F"
Typical Scores
The average man has 15 to 17% body fat, while the average woman is between 18 and 22%. Typical scores for elite athletes are 6% to 12% for men and 12% to 20% for women.
The following table details the percentage body fat for male and female athletes for a variety of sports.
| Sport | Male | Female |
| Baseball | 12-15% | 12-18% |
| Basketball | 6-12% | 20-27% |
| Canoe/Kayak | 6-12% | 10-16% |
| Cycling | 5-15% | 15-20% |
| Field & Ice Hockey | 8-15% | 12-18% |
| Gymnastics | 5-12% | 10-16% |
| Rowing | 6-14% | 12-18% |
| Swimming | 9-12% | 14-24% |
| Tennis | 12-16% | 16-24% |
| Track - Runners | 8-10% | 12-20% |
| Track - Jumpers | 7-12% | 10-18% |
| Track - Throwers | 14-20% | 20-28% |
| Triathlon | 5-12% | 10-15% |
| Volleyball | 11-14% | 16-25% |
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Associated Pages
The following Sports Coach pages should be read in conjunction with this page:
- Articles on Performance Evaluation
- Evaluation and Performance Tests
- Body Fat Percentage
- Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Muscle Fibre Test - Dr F. Hatfield
- Yuhasz skinfold test
Associated Books
The following books provide more information related to this topic:
- Advanced Studies in Physical Education and Sport, P Beashel et al., ISBN 0 17 4482345
- Physical Education and the Study of Sport, B. Davis et al., ISBN 0 7234 31752
- Essentials of Exercise Physiology, W.D. McArdle et al., ISBN 0 683 30507 7
- Physical Education and Sport Studies, D. Roscoe et al., ISBN 1 901424 20 0
- The World of Sport Examined, P. Beashel et al., ISBN 0 17 438719 9
- Advanced PE for Edexcel, F. Galligan et al., ISBN 0 435 50643 9
- Examining Physical Education, K. Bizley, ISBN 0 435 50660 9
- Sport and PE, K Wesson et al., ISBN 0 340 683821
- PE for you, J. Honeybourne, ISBN 0 7487 3277 2