4-Site Skinfold (Durnin & Womersley)

Quickly measure and calculate your body fat%, lean body mass, and fat mass

Keep in mind that the comparison classifications vary by age and by gender, so it wouldn’t make sense to compare the body fat percentages of a 32 year old man vs a 32 year old woman, or a 32 year old woman vs a 65 year old woman. Skinfold measurements measure subcutaneous fat located under your skin and not visceral fat located within your abdomen. These metrics are best combined with circumference measurements and weight to create a complete picture of your health.

4-Site Skinfold (Durnin & Womersley) Protocol

Purpose

Estimate body fat % based on measurements of subcutaneous fat.

Equipment

Skinfold caliper

Procedure

Measurements are taken on the right side of body. Caliber needs to be perpendicular to the site analyzed. The participant must relax the muscle group that is being assessed. When skin fold is pinched, the practitioner should be taking reading at the middle of the pinched skin, not apex or base. Wait 1 to 2 seconds after releasing caliber, record closest 0.5mm. Retake each site in order to obtain accurate readings.

  • Bicep: vertical fold at the midpoint of the anterior side of bicep between shoulder and elbow with arm relaxed at the side.
  • Tricep: vertical fold at the midpoint of the posterior side of tricep between shoulder and elbow with arm relaxed at the side.
  • Subscapular: diagonal fold 2cm from inferior angle of the scapula.
  • Suprailiac: diagonal fold parallel and superior to the iliac crest.

4-Site Skinfold (Durnin & Womersley) Calculation

yrs
lbs
mm
mm
mm
mm

Calculation Result

DATE-
Body Fat %-
Body Fat% Classification-
Lean Body Mass (lbs)-
Fat Mass (lbs)-

Body Fat % Classification Chart

Male: 18-29 y/o

CLASSIFICATIONFROM (%)TO (%)
Essential Fat25
Excellent5.19.3
Good9.414
Average14.117.5
Below Average17.622.5
Poor22.6>22.6

Male: 30-39 y/o

CLASSIFICATIONFROM (%)TO (%)
Essential Fat25
Excellent5.113.8
Good13.917.4
Average17.520.4
Below Average20.524.1
Poor24.2>24.2

Male: 40-49 y/o

CLASSIFICATIONFROM (%)TO (%)
Essential Fat25
Excellent5.116.2
Good16.319.5
Average19.622.4
Below Average22.526
Poor26.1>26.1

Male: 50-59 y/o

CLASSIFICATIONFROM (%)TO (%)
Essential Fat25
Excellent5.117.8
Good17.921.2
Average21.324
Below Average24.127.4
Poor27.5>27.5

Male: 60-100 y/o

CLASSIFICATIONFROM (%)TO (%)
Essential Fat25
Excellent5.118.3
Good18.421.9
Average2225
Below Average25.128.4
Poor28.5>28.5

Female: 18-29 y/o

CLASSIFICATIONFROM (%)TO (%)
Essential Fat1013
Excellent13.117
Good17.120.5
Average20.623.6
Below Average23.727.6
Poor27.7>27.7

Female: 30-39 y/o

CLASSIFICATIONFROM (%)TO (%)
Essential Fat1013
Excellent13.117.9
Good1821.5
Average21.624.8
Below Average24.929.2
Poor29.3>29.3

Female: 40-49 y/o

CLASSIFICATIONFROM (%)TO (%)
Essential Fat1013
Excellent13.121.2
Good21.324.8
Average24.928
Below Average28.132
Poor32.1>32.1

Female: 50-59 y/o

CLASSIFICATIONFROM (%)TO (%)
Essential Fat1013
Excellent13.124.9
Good2528.4
Average28.531.5
Below Average31.635.5
Poor35.6>35.6

Female: 60-100 y/o

CLASSIFICATIONFROM (%)TO (%)
Essential Fat1013
Excellent13.125
Good25.129.2
Average29.332.4
Below Average32.536.5
Poor36.6>36.6

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