Need to lose weight? Lets measure fat by folding skin! One of the more popular methods, Durnin-Womersley, involves taking skin fold measures on the bicep, tricep, subscapular (shoulder blade) and suprailiac (waist). The measures (in millimetres) are put into a calculation to estimate body density. A second calculation then estimates body fat based on the body density. The general consensus for acceptable body fat is 18 – 25% for men and 25 – 31% for women. Based on Durnin-Womersley:
If you are a male over 50 years the total of the skin fold measurements should not exceed 45 mm.
If you are a male 30 – 50 years the total of the skin fold measurements should not exceed 60 mm.
If you are a female over 50 years the total of the skin fold measurements should not exceed 42 mm.
If you are a female 30 – 50 years the total of the skin fold measurements should not exceed 55 mm.
Athletes seek lower body fat and the ideal percentage body fat varies between sports. Some push the boundaries of what is safe and healthy at the lean end of the scales. We just need to get into the acceptable zone.
Note: Another commonly used skin fold method is the Jackson-Pollock method based on seven skin fold measurements.
How do you shape up?
regards, Keith
