There are many different ways to tell if you are at a healthy weight for you age and height or if you are overweight and need to shed a few pounds. The quick estimate system is an easy way to tell if you are overweight, but can not always be 100% accurate. Other methods are underwater weighing, skin fold thickness, bio-electrical impedance. This article will touch on each and how you can apply them to yourself to determine whether you are in healthy condition or if you need to lose some weight.
With the quick estimate method to determine weight level it comes down to a simple formula. For women it is 100 lbs. for 5 ft. and you add 5 lbs. for every inch over 5 ft. or take away 5 lbs. for every inch under 5 ft. With men it is 106 lbs. And you add 6 lbs. For every inch over 5 ft. or take away 6 lbs. For every inch under 5 ft. If you carry more muscle on your body rather than fat then you can add 10 percent or if you are smaller framed you can minus 10 percent from the weight determined with the formula above.
One of the best ways to get an accurate weighing on your body fat percentage is through underwater weighing. It however is not very common and can be difficult to implement due to it requiring special equipment and being underwater. It is mainly a method used in research facilities. The theory behind it is that fat floats, so that when a body is submerged into water you can see how much is lean muscle as opposed to fat. A simple explanation of how it is implemented is you are put in a tank full of water with a weight belt. You then are submerged into the water and you exhale all the oxygen from your lungs. You then remain underwater for 10 seconds and a tech takes your weight 8-10 rimes to find the average. Your weight is then compared from your weight on land as opposed to the weight you had under water and the difference determines you body fat.
Taking a measurement of your skin-fold thickness can also be an easy way to see if you are overweight. It is much more common and a simpler process to find out. It is a very accurate method if done by someone experienced. You may not always get the most accurate reading if performed on a highly overweight or elderly person. It is done by placing calipers between a pinch of your skin on your back, stomach and arms. They then take the measurements recorded and plug them into a formula which determines your body fat content.
Another easy way to determine body fat content is bio-electrical impedance. While it is a simple process it also requires special equipment. Results can be skewed if you have to much liquid in your body or you are dehydrated. Being overweight or having little muscle mass can also give slightly inaccurate results. It is done by having a low electrical current sent through your body. A tech then measure the amount of water in your body and since muscle contains water and fat does not it leaves you with a precise measurement of your lean tissue as opposed to fat.
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