Body Fat % (7-site)

General rules

• Pinch firmly with thumb and index finger, lift the skinfold AWAY from underlying muscle, hold the fold while you place the caliper jaws 1 cm below your fingers.
• Read the caliper after the needle settles (about 2 seconds).
• Take three readings per site; record the average. If any reading differs by more than 1 mm, take a fourth.
• Measurements should be taken on the right side of the body while standing relaxed.

The seven sites

1. (1) Chest: A diagonal fold taken midway between the anterior axillary line (front of armpit) and the nipple. For women, take this one-third of the distance from the armpit to the nipple.
2. (2) Abdominal: A vertical fold taken 2 cm to the right of the navel. Do not pinch the navel itself; stay on the abdominal wall.
3. (3) Thigh: A vertical fold on the front of the thigh, midway between the inguinal crease (hip crease) and the top of the patella (kneecap). Shift weight to the other leg while measuring.
4. (4) Tricep: A vertical fold on the back of the upper arm, midway between the tip of the shoulder (acromion) and the elbow (olecranon). The arm should hang relaxed by the side.
5. (5) Subscapular: A diagonal fold (45-degree angle) taken 1 to 2 cm below the inferior angle (bottom tip) of the shoulder blade.
6. (6) Suprailiac: A diagonal fold taken just above the iliac crest (hip bone) at the anterior axillary line. Follow the natural line of the hip bone.
7. (7) Midaxillary: A vertical fold taken on the midaxillary line (straight down from the centre of the armpit) at the level of the xiphoid process (the base of the breastbone).