Three Ways to Check Your Body Fat Levels

Article written by Free weight loss guide blog

If you are trying to lose weight, the absolute best way to keep track of your progress is to step on the scale. However, a basic bathroom scale will only measure your body weight and does not take into consideration your body fat. In order to get a more accurate idea of your body composition, it is best to measure your body fat levels. Here are three ways to check your body fat levels.

1. Use a home bathroom scale that measures body fat- These scales are different than your normal bathroom scales. The utilize Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis method to determine body fat percentage. It transmits a harmless electrical current through your feet which sends data to the scale to tell how much body fat you have. This type of scale is pretty accurate and simple to use.

2. The Pinch Test- This is done by using skin fold calipers. You may either choose to buy your own set or you can schedule an appointment to have it done by a professional. It works by squeezing the folds of your skin to measure exactly how thick you are. The pinch test is not expensive at all.

3. DEXA- DEXA stands for dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. It measures bone density while at the same time measures body fat percentage. The test uses a body scanner along with two different low-dose x-rays to determine bone mass in addition to soft tissue mass. This is one of the most accurate ways to determine your body fat levels.