When administering a skinfold assessment which side of the body should all measurements be taken on for body fat left front right back?

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Step-by-step explanation

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The skinfold measurement test is one of the oldest and still most common methods of determining a person's body composition and body fat percentage. This test estimates the percentage of body fat by measuring skinfold thickness at specific locations on the body.

The thickness of these folds is a measure of the fat under the skin, also called subcutaneous adipose tissue. Skinfold thickness results rely on formulas that convert these numbers into an estimate of a person's percentage of body fat according to a person's age and gender.

Skinfold measurements are generally taken at specific sites on the right side of the body. The tester pinches the skin at the location site and pulls the fold of skin away from the underlying muscle so only the skin and fat tissue are being held. Special skinfold calipers are then used to measure the skinfold thickness in millimeters. Two measurements are recorded and averaged.

The measurement sites vary depending upon the specific skinfold testing protocol being used, but typically include the following seven locations on the body:

• Abdomen: Next to the belly button
• Midaxilla: Midline of the side of the torso
• Pectoral: The mid-chest, just forward of the armpit
• Quadriceps: Middle of the upper thigh
• Subscapular: Beneath the edge of the shoulder blade
• Suprailiac: Just above the iliac crest of the hip bone
• Triceps: The back of the upper arm

Once you have taken skinfold measurements, you'll need to convert these numbers into a percent of body fat. The easiest way to calculate the percent of body fat is to use a software program. There are as many different formulas and calculations as there are ways to measure skinfold thickness, but some that have held up over time include those published by Jackson and Pollock.

You can find these being used in the following online body fat calculators:

• Body Composition Calculator 1
• Body Composition Calculator 2

If you would like to measure your body fat percentage without requiring any special tools or measurements, you can also try out our calculator:

The accuracy of these tests may depend on the type of calipers being used, the competence of the tester, and a person's level of hydration at the time of the test. Since using the calipers can be difficult, skinfold measurements may not be the best choice for assessing fat percentages, especially if you're trying to do it yourself.

However, even if the accuracy is somewhat off​ if you have the test done by the same tester under similar conditions, you may find the test a useful way to determine body composition change over time.

With other technologies available, skinfold testing is becoming somewhat of an ancient art-form. Most personal trainers today use electrical impedance methods and scales that measure body composition instead of directly measuring skinfolds.

No matter the method you use, it's important to keep in mind that weight fluctuates constantly and most body composition tests should be used as a general reference point and are best when averaged over a given timeframe.

This technique of measurement is based on the densitometry technique (underwater weighing) and the prediction equations are ‘population specific’.  That means originally to come up with the equations to calculate body fat from calliper measurements a whole lot of people were underwater weighed and then calliper tested.  Their results from the underwater weighing were used to work out what equation was needed to convert their calliper measurements to a body fat percentage.

In other words, there is the real possibility that calliper measurements will be inaccurate, misleading and unreliable in many instances.  That means personal trainers expose themselves and their clients to significant risks.  If a client trains well for six weeks then finds out their body fat percentage hasn’t changed (or worse has become larger) because there were errors in the equations used, or the measurements taken, or the consistency of the measurements, the result will be one of disappointment, frustration and de-motivation. 

This is why we recommend extreme caution and very strict use of protocols if you are going to use calliper testing in any way.  If you do, it is best just to use a ‘sum of skinfolds’ where you add up all the measures you take and don’t convert to body fat percentage as this, at the very least, removes the errors in equations and comparisons to sample populations which can throw your figures off.

As this technique is commonly used in the fitness industry and some clients may even specifically request it, it is important that you understand the protocol and are competent at completing it.  Remember though, choose wisely the circumstances in which you use this type of measurement and pick the test that best suits your client goals and will provide valid, reliable and positive results.

If you are going to use callipers as a form of measurement it is recommended you practice your skill in measuring skinfolds on between 50-100 ‘practice’ participants to develop your proficiency. 

Procedures for skinfold measurement:

Place the contact surface of the callipers at a 90 degree angle to the skinfold approximately 1cm below the fingers.  Slightly release the pressure between the fingers, but remain holding the skinfold so that a greater pressure is applied by the callipers.  Release the handle of the callipers and read the needle to the nearest 0.1mm approximately 4 seconds

Here are some key points to remember when taking skinfold measurements:

• Ensure you are careful in locating the anatomical landmarks used to identify the skinfold site
• Take all skinfolds on the right side of the body (for reliability)
• Ensure that you take the skinfold in a rotational order (circuit) and do not complete consecutive readings at each skinfold site
• Grasp the skinfold firmly between your thumb and index finger of your left hand.  The skinfold is lifted 1 cm and recorded with the callipers held in the right hand
• Keep the fold elevated while the measurement is recorded
• Take the skinfold measurement 4 seconds after the calliper pressure is released
• Take a minimum of two measurements at each site.  The acceptable range between repeated measures is 1mm.  If the values vary by more than 1mm take an additional measurement and use the average of the three measurements
• Skinfold measurements should not be taken when the skin is wet or after exercise
• Remember age, size and state of hydration may affect skinfold measurement

The ‘Durnin and Womersley’ four-site skinfold test

The most commonly used skinfold test is the Durnin & Womersley four site test, devised in 1974 (yip – it’s pretty dated!).  This test uses the sum of the triceps, biceps, subscapula and suprailiac skinfolds to produce an estimate of body fat for males and females.

The following images and instructions will help you to locate the four sites used in the Durnin and Womersley test.  Once you have successfully located the sites use the previous instructions on how to take a skinfold to complete the four site test.

Once you have completed and recorded the measurements of the four sites, refer to the following tables for the conversion of the sum of the four skinfolds to % body fat and for a rating of the sum of the four skinfolds for males and females of normal and athletic ability.

Tricep Skinfold

• Vertical fold
• Located on the posterior midline of the upper arm
• Measure halfway between the acromion (bony point of the shoulder) and olecranon processes (bony point of the elbow)
• Arm held freely to the side of the body

• Vertical fold
• Located on the anterior midline of the upper arm over the belly of the biceps muscle
• Located 1 cm higher than the level used to mark the triceps site

• Diagonal fold
• Located 1 to 2 cm below the inferior angle of the scapula (the bottom of the shoulder blade)
• If you struggle to locate the bottom of the shoulder blade then ask your client to raise their arm up behind their back – this should make the scapula become more prominent.

• Diagonal fold
• Located 1 cm above the anterior superior iliac crest (top of the hip bone)
• Locating this landmark may require you to ‘poke’ firmly through thick subcutaneous layers of fat to find the bone underneath.

Once you have recorded the skinfolds at each site you could simply use these measurements to compare with subsequent measurements to show change in the clients skinfold over time (which we recommend), alternatively you can add the sum of the four sites together to work out an estimate of your clients body fat percentage using the following table.

Body Fat % Conversion Table

Use the table below for the conversion of the sum of the four skinfolds (biceps, triceps, subscapula and suprailiac) in mm into % body fat.

Rating of the Sum of the Four Skinfolds

You can use this table (although we would advise against it) for a rating of poor to excellent for the sum of your clients four skinfolds.