Body fat%....IS THIS POSSIBLE???

[DONALDuckY]

I just recently bought the AST digital FatTrack Calipers from DPS and i was fooling around with it and check out all my friends body fat percentages. I have this one friend that consistenly got a 2.5-3.5% body fat consistenly and we measured him 3 times a day for this past week. He's my workout partner and he's 5'7", 135 pounds, benches about 235 lbs, his arms are 13", and he's pretty damn ripped, but is such a low body fat percentage possible? or could it just be deviation from this particular body fat caliper. And if this fat caliper device is reliable, is it safe for my friend to have such a low body fat percentage. What do you guys think?

 

[Smurf the little pea.]

I remember the announcers during the Atlanta games mention that whatever his name was, the guy that ran the 200 and 400 and won gold in both with like world records, they said he had 2% bodyfat, so I guess its possible. But you would have to be pretty fit.

 

[DanielBishop]

For most people, about 3% fat is the essential fat which surrounds neurons and acts as cushion and lubrication for joints. I don't think you could get much lower than 3% without having some serious health complications.

Like I've said again and again on this board, you can't measure someone's skinfolds with bodyfat calipers and then automatically have a percentage figure. The numbers (in millimetres) that you measure have to be put into some sort of formula to come out with a %.... and there's literally hundreds of different formulae that are used. You can pick one to suit your needs.... if you're not happy with your result if you measure yourself and get 12%, then you can use trial and error to find a formula which clocks you at 6%....

.... I've said it before and I'll say it again, there is no accurate way* to measure bodyfat as a percentage.

*Unless there's some new technology that has come out since the end of 1999 that I haven't heard of yet.

 

[mekannik]

Also - there is going to be a +/- range on the readings of the caliper. Check the manual that came with the cailipers or call the manufacturer.

 

[diamonddiceclay]

5% would be great for a pro bb'er so I doubt your friend could have less bf

 

[bigpoppadrew]

135lbs and benching 235 with only 13" arms??
LOL!! Maybe he's benching 135 and his bf% is probably like 12.5-13.5% you probably forgot the 1 before the #

 

[DONALDuckY]

Hard to believe, but he's seriously only 135 and pushing up a 235 MAX, and he is really skinny and lean but don't let his size fool you, even i was shocked at how much he lifts. I guess he dense muscle composition or something, But i still can't believe his body fat percentage that the digital fat caliper showed. Has anyone else purchased or heard about this body fat caliper?

 

[diamonddiceclay]

the only truly accurate way to check bf is underwater

 

[DanielBishop]

Still not accurate. Sorry.

 

[fhg43]

There is some new device like a CT or x-ray machine which measures body composition. There aren't many places that have it (mostly hospitals and research facilities). It is more accurate than underwater weighing. Overall it is very accurate. Its called a DEXA scanner or something like that. $$$
FHG