Where are the skinfold sites?
To estimate the total amount of body fat, four skinfolds are measured:
Table of Contents
- Biceps skinfold (front side middle upperarm)
- Triceps skinfold (back side middle upperarm)
- Subscapular skinfold (under the lowest point of the shoulder blade)
- Suprailiac skinfold (above the upper bone of the hip)
What are the 7 different sites used for skinfold measures?
The main purpose of skinfold measurements is to estimate general fatness and the distribution of subcutaneous adipose tissue. Fat is pinched between a two-pronged caliper on designated body sites such as triceps, biceps, abdomen, iliac crest, just below the scapula, the thigh and the chest.

How many skinfold sites are there?
The following are the nine anatomical sites (as illustrated in Figure 2) that are most commonly used in the assessment of skinfold thickness: Chest or pectoral skinfold: For men, get a diagonal fold half way between the armpit and the nipple.
What are the 3 sites you would use for a female in a 3 site skinfold test?
For women, enter the average of three caliper measurements for each of your hip, tricep, and thigh measurements. Men enter the average of three caliper measurements for each of your thigh, chest, and belly measurements.
What are skinfold measurements?

Skinfold measurement is a technique to estimate how much fat is on the body. It involves using a device called a caliper to lightly pinch the skin and underlying fat in several places. This quick and simple method of estimating body fat requires a high level of skill to get accurate results.
IS 3 site skinfold accurate?
The overall BF% with the three-site formula (23.21 ± 3.61%) was significantly lower (t = −6.768, p < . 001, 95% CI [−3.30, −1.78], d = 1.069) than the seven-site formula (25.75 ± 4.39%) using the BodyMetrix™.
How is skinfold calculated?
Number of Skinfold Measurements The Jackson and Pollock equation to calculate body density in women is: 1.0994921 – (0.0009929 x the sum of the skinfold sites in millimeters) + (0.0000023 x the sum squared) – (0.0001392 x age). For men, it’s: 1.10938 – (0.0008267 x sum) + (0.0000016 x sum squared) – (0.0002574 x age).
What is a good skinfold?
Taking Skinfold Measurements
Ability | Gender | Good |
---|---|---|
Normal | Male | 81-90 |
Normal | Female | 91-100 |
Athletic | Male | 61-80 |
Athletic | Female | 71-85 |
How are Skinfolds calculated?
How do you use Jackson and Pollock formula?
Body Density = 1.0990750 – 0.0008209 (X2) + 0.0000026 (X2)2 – 0.0002017 (X3) – 0.005675 (X4) + 0.018586 (X5). Where X2 = sum of the chest, abdomen and thigh skinfolds in mm, X3 = age in years, X4 = waist circumference in m, and X5 = forearm circumference in m.