This is kind of my gripe with calipers for bf% don’t get me wrong I think they can be a good tool to measure change in body composition because if you pinch the same way it’ll show you changes happening but actual bf% is tricky and super dependent on where you pinch and how often. Based on your account I believe you that you were really low bf% because it was the same for me, I err on the side of skepticism because of just how much broscience there is out there.
Wow! Very cool data! Judging by these numbers I was probably more like 18-20% fat at my lowest. Humans are fattier than I’ve been taught!
Of course, this gives us the classic problem of having to stick with a flawed technique thanks to years of data and advice built up around it, or update your formulas and adjust the old data to better reflect reality. Fun stuff either way. Thanks for the articles!
I think what people sometimes forget is that our brains and our bone marrow is almost entirely fat and makes up around 5-6% of our body, but this again is just a bit the problem some will be able to do measurements that are closer to a DEXA and some will have one that’s further away. It’s a good tool for measuring change in bf% but yeah depending where and how often people pinch you’ll have variance and almost always it’ll get undercounted because you can’t pinch brain matter or marrow.
Sure here you go, if I remember it right they used a 5 pinch test instead of the more normal 3 pinch people can do on themselves. I found this one that used a three pinch method the mean BF% for pinching was 11.59% vs 21.35% with DEXA.
This is kind of my gripe with calipers for bf% don’t get me wrong I think they can be a good tool to measure change in body composition because if you pinch the same way it’ll show you changes happening but actual bf% is tricky and super dependent on where you pinch and how often. Based on your account I believe you that you were really low bf% because it was the same for me, I err on the side of skepticism because of just how much broscience there is out there.
Thanks! I appreciate it. Normally I would search myself but I’ve acquired a disability that can make it difficult sometimes.
I’m right there with you. I don’t give a shit what the number is, I just want consistent data.
Wow! Very cool data! Judging by these numbers I was probably more like 18-20% fat at my lowest. Humans are fattier than I’ve been taught!
Of course, this gives us the classic problem of having to stick with a flawed technique thanks to years of data and advice built up around it, or update your formulas and adjust the old data to better reflect reality. Fun stuff either way. Thanks for the articles!
I think what people sometimes forget is that our brains and our bone marrow is almost entirely fat and makes up around 5-6% of our body, but this again is just a bit the problem some will be able to do measurements that are closer to a DEXA and some will have one that’s further away. It’s a good tool for measuring change in bf% but yeah depending where and how often people pinch you’ll have variance and almost always it’ll get undercounted because you can’t pinch brain matter or marrow.