So if the BMI is not a good indicator - what would you suggest?
Probably the simplest way to calculate your body fat is by using a special set of calipers. Skin and fat measurements are taken from the waist, shoulder blade, biceps and triceps. The resulting readings, in millimeters, are added up to produce a single figure. The figure is then plotted against a chart that takes the patient's sex, age and measurement into consideration to determine your body-fat percentage. The higher the body fat, the higher your risk of suffering from obesity-related conditions.
Another popular method is the Body Adiposity Index (BAI). It does not use your weight in the calculation. In order to work out your percentage body fat, BAI multiplies you hip circumference by your height. Although clinical studies have not shown any definitive proof, they nonetheless support the postulation the BAI is more accurate than BMI. As the resulting figures in either test are approximate, the elimination of the use of body weight in the equation prevents wrong conclusions being reached with muscular individuals, particularly athletes. BAI is also useful in areas where scales may not be available e.g. remote locations such as the jungle or desert.
BAI can be indeterminate for men or women reach their 50s, as up to that point, belly fat is distributed throughout the body on a fairly even basis. After 50, fat accumulates around the hips and waist. For older adults, measuring the natural waist can give a good indication of the amount of abdominal fat you are carrying. Knowing the circumference of your waist can help determine your risk of getting heart disease and other medical conditions. According the physicians, the following figures indicate individuals in the 'at risk' group: women with a waist circumference of 35 inches and over and men with a waist circumference of 40 inches and over. This is probably the easiest method, as anyone can measure their own waist.
A high-tech method of measuring the ratio of fat-to-muscle is hydrostatic weighting. This is a controversial method, but contrary to popular belief, hydrostatic weighing is not an ineffective way of calculating body-fat. The weighing process takes place underwater on a chair that is placed on a zeroed out set of scales. You then sit on the chair before exhaling all the air from you lungs and then placing your head underwater. Once the scales stabilizes, your weight is taken. The resulting figure is then passed through a series of formulas which, ultimately, produces a body-fat reading. The reason it works is that the body fat is lighter than water, and so does not figure into the measurement, and the formulas compare the resulting number to actual overall body weight.
All are far more accurate than the BMI.
