Skinfold Measurements and
Girth
Skinfold Measurements
• Target Population:
– Suitable for all populations, difficult to get reliable
measurements with individuals who are obese
• Validity:
– + or – 3.5%
– Can be used as a monitoring device to indicate
changes in body composition over time
• Reliability:
– Can vary from tester to tester depending on their
skill and experience
• Advantages:
– Widely utilized to assess body composition
Description of Skinfold Measurement
•
• Estimation of body
•
fat by skinfold
•
thickness
• Measurements can •
range from 3 to 9
•
different standard
•
anatomical sites
•
around the body
•
•
Triceps
Biceps
Chest
Midaxilla
Subscapular
Abdomen
Suprailium
Thigh
Calf
Equipment Required
• Skinfold Calipers
• Flexible Tape
Measure
Sanitization
• Body Composition measurements
require contact with the skin!
• Professional Personal Trainers must
take the necessary precautions to
limit the spread of bacteria and/or
viruses.
YOU MUST SANITIZE EVERYTHING
THAT COMES IN CONTACT WITH A
CLIENT!
Sanitization
• HAND WASHING IS THE
MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS
OF PREVENTING THE
SPREAD OF INFECTION
• Hand Washing Should Be
Done:
–Before and after client contact!
Sanitization
• Wash hands, utilize gloves,
antibacterial gel and/or disposable
wipes before, during and after body
composition measurements.
• Clean and sanitize all equipment.
This includes calipers and tape
measures.
–This also applies to stethoscopes
utilized in blood pressure measurements
Procedures
• Skinfold measurements should be made
on dry skin, prior to exercise
• The calipers are calibrated with a specific
jaw pressure, abuse of the calipers can
leave them useless due to inaccuracy
• Fat compresses, thus it is essential that
you rotate through measurement sites which
allows time for skin to regain normal thickness
• It takes experience before sufficient
accuracy of measurements occurs
Procedures
1. All measurements should be made on the
right side of the body (for consistency)
2. Grasp the skin firmly with the thumb and index
finger to form a fold of skin and subcutaneous
fat
3. Place the caliper perpendicular to the fold .5
to 1 inch away from the thumb and index
finger
4. Release the caliper grip
5. Pinch should be maintained with thumb and
index finger while reading the caliper
Procedures
6. Wait 1 to 2 seconds (not longer)
before reading caliper
7. Read the dial on the caliper to the
nearest 0.5 mm
8. Obtain one measurement from
each site, and repeat all test sites
for a second trial
Procedures
9. If the two measurements are within 1 to
2 mm take the average of the two
10. If the two measurements are not within
1 to 2 mm take two more additional
measurements and average the
two (rotate through the sites)
Triceps:
• Use a tape measure
• Arm held freely to the side of
the body
• Measure halfway between the
acromion (shoulder) and
olecranon processes (elbow)
• Grasp a vertical fold of skin
on the posterior surface of the
arm (over the triceps muscle)
• If you are unsure if you have
pinched only skin and no
underlying muscle tissue, ask
the subject to flex the muscle
while you pinch.
Triceps
• Use a tape measure
• Arm held freely to the side of
the body with the palm
supinated
• Measure halfway between the
acromion (shoulder) and
radius
• Take a vertical fold of skin on
the anterior surface of the arm
(over the biceps muscle)
• If you are unsure if you have
pinched only skin and no
underlying muscle tissue, ask
the subject to flex the muscle
while you pinch.
Biceps
Chest:
• Measure mid-way
between the
anterior axillary
fold (underarm)
and nipple
• Take a diagonal
fold, with the long
axis of the caliper
directed towards
the nipple of the
chest
Midaxilla:
• Measure from the
midaxilla (middle
of armpit) at the
level of the
xiphoid process
of the sternum
• Take a vertical
fold
Subscapula:
• A diagonal fold taken at a 45
degree angle; 1 to 2 cm below
the inferior angle of the scapula
(bottom point of the scapula)
• If there is difficulty finding this
landmark, get the subject to
reach behind their back with
their right arm, while feeling
for the movement of the
scapula
• On females it is sometimes
difficult to take this measure
and maintain modesty, and also
the bra-strap may often
obstruct this site.
Abdomen:
• Measure 1 inch
to the right of
the umbilicus
(belly button)
• Take a vertical
fold
• Do not place the
caliper or fingers
inside the navel
Suprailium:
• Measure from the
axilla (armpit) to
above the crest of
the ilium
• Take a diagonal
fold at a 45
degree angle
above the crest of
the ilium
Thigh:
• Measure the midpoint of the anterior
(front) surface of the
thigh, midway
between the hip and
knee joints
• Take a vertical fold
• Stand with the
weight on the
back foot
Calf:
• Take a vertical fold
at the maximum
circumference of
the calf on the
midline of its medial
border
• The subject should
place their foot on a
chair or box so that
the knee is at
approximately 90
degrees
Results
• There are hundreds of equations available for
converting skinfold measurements to a percent
body fat
• It is best to use a formula that is based on a
population sample that most closely resembles
the person who is measured
• You can use the sum of several sites to
monitor and compare body fat measures
• Go to
http://www.linear-software.com/online.html
to find out your body fat percentage
Table of general guidelines for using total sum (in
millimeters) of the seven skinfold sites:
triceps, biceps, subscapula, suprailium, abdomen, thigh,
calf
Typical Male
Excellent Good
Average Below
Poor
Average
60-80
91-110 111150
Female 70-90
Athletic Male
81-90
91-100 121150
150 +
101130
150 +
40-60
61-80
81-100 101130
130 +
Female 50-70
71-85
86-110 111130
130 +
Durnin-Womersley Formula
• Biceps, Triceps, Subscapula, and Suprailium
• Add the totals of the four sites and then find
the gender and age categories for the body
composition in the table provided or go to
http://www.linear-software.com/online.html
to find out your body fat percentage
Body Fat Percentage Ranges by The American
Council on Exercise
Classification Women (% fat)
Men (% fat)
Essential Fat
10-12%
2-4%
Athletes
14-20%
6-13%
Fitness
21-24%
14-17%
Acceptable
25-31%
18-25%
Obese
32% plus
25% plus
Circumference
• When measuring, you need to
make sure the tape is not too tight
or too loose, is lying flat on the skin,
and with the tape horizontal
Circumference
• Neck:
– Across the Adam’s apple
• Forearm:
– The subject holds the arm out with the palm
supinated
– Maximum girth of forearm
Circumference Measurements
• Biceps Relaxed:
– Measure at the maximal circumference of the
biceps, measure with the palm supinated
• Biceps Contracted:
– Arm is out to the side at a 90 degree angle and
elbow is flexed
– Fist clenched; maximally contract biceps
– Largest circumference is measured
Circumference
• Upper Chest:
– Taken at the level of the middle of the sternum with
the tape passing under the arms
– Measurement taken at the end of a normal
expiration
• Lower Chest:
– Across the nipple line
Circumference
• Abdomen:
– Level of umbilicus (belly button)
• Waist:
– Narrowest part of waist below the rib cage and just
above the top of the hipbones.
Circumference
• Hips:
– With feet together, measure circumference at the
widest portion of the buttocks
• Thighs:
– Measure 10 inches above the top of the patella
(maximal girth of thigh below gluteal fold)
• Calf:
– The subject stands erect with their weight evenly
distributed on both feet and legs slightly apart
– Measure at the maximal circumference between the
ankle and the knee