Body Fat Percentage Guide: Calculation, Measurement & Goals

Determining your optimal body fat percentage is essential for reaching fitness goals. Learn how to measure body fat using calipers or scales and understand the difference between burning fat and carbohydrates.

How to Calculate Body Fat From Caliper Measurements

Published Jul,18 2017 | By Denton Dean

Calipers calculate body fat by pulling fat away from muscle. This creates skinfolds. The calipers measure the folds’ lengths at different sites. When using the Jackson-Pollock method — the most accurate — the tester checks three sites. These depend on gender, and they are always taken on the body's right side.