Body Fat Caliper Measurement Sites - Women
Chest - Diagonal fold, one third of the way between upper armpit and nipple
Midaxillary - Horizontal fold, directly below armpit
Bicep - Vertical fold, halfway between shoulder and elbow, directly on bicep
Abdominal - Vertical fold, one inch to the right of navel
Suprailiac - Diagonal fold, directly above iliac crest
Thigh- Vertical fold, midway between knee cap and top of thigh
Calf - Vertical fold, inside of leg on largest part of calf
Subscapular - Diagonal fold, directly below shoulder blade
Tricep - Vertical fold, midway between elbow and shoulder
Lower Back - Horizontal fold, directly over the kidneys, and 2 inches to the right of spine
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Body Fat Caliper Procedures1
1.) All measurement should be made on the right side of the body
2.) Caliper should be placed 1 cm away from the thumb and finger, perpendicular to the skinfold, and halfway between the crest and the base of the fold
3.) Pinch should be maintained while reading the caliper
4.) Wait 1 to 2 s (and not longer) before reading caliper
5.) Take duplicate measures at each site and retest if duplicate measurements are not within 1 to 2 mm
6.) Rotate through measurement sites or allow time for skin to regain normal texture and thickness
1American College of Sports Medicine. ACSM's Guidelines For Exercise Testing and Prescription. 6th Edition. USA, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 2000;65.
Female Body Fat Calculator