Body Fat Caliper Instructions

1. The site you will use for skinfold measument is the suprailliac, which is located approximately one inch above the point of your right hipbone. To find the suprailliac, put your left index finger on the point of your right hipbone and move up one inch.

2. Make sure the slide on the curved part of the Accu-Measure caliper is moved all the way to the right. Place the Accu-Measure caliper in your right hand.

3. While standing, with your fingers about 2-3 inches apart, firmly grasp the suprailliac skinfold between the thumb and the index finger of your left hand. Gently pull the skinfold away from your body. Pull the skin and underlying fat away from the muscle tissue. Note: If the site contains a large amounts of fat, you will need to increase the distance between your thumb and index finger in order to grasp and pull the fold. Be sure to grasp the skinfold directly on the skin not through clothing.

4. With the Accu-Measure in your right hand, place the Accu-Measure jaws over the skinfold about 1/4 of an inch from your left thumb and forefinger. The caliper head should be halfway between the crest and base of the fold, right in the middle of the fold. The caliper must be perpendicular to the skinfold.

5. While continuing to hold the skinfold with the left hand, press with the thumb where indicated on the Accu-Measure until you feel a slight "click." The measurement slide will automatically move across the measurement arm and stop at the correct reading. Immediately stop pinching when you feel and hear the "click."

Release the jaws of the Accu-Measure and read and record your measurement to the nearest millimeter. Return the slide member to the far right starting position so it is in place for your next measurement.

6. Once you have taken one reading with the body fat caliper, take another measurement, If the second reading is more than 1mm apart from your first reading, take another measurement, and record the reading when it becomes more consistent.

7. Refer to the appropriate Male or Female Body Fat Measurement Chart to determine your body fat percentage at the intersection of your age and millimeter reading.