Measuring Body Fat %

jannievanzyl

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Saw a thread or two here asking for details on doing a DEXA scan.

I looked for a long time to find a DEXA operation in Cape Town that can do a body composition scan and report accurate fat and lean muscle percentage. The DEXA machines at the various hospitals only do bone density.

Eventually found a practice in Durbanville, had it done (13% body fat) and immediately went to Virgin to compare (19%) and then home to check my bioimpedance scale (23%).

You get a pretty cool report with an actual graphic on where on your body the fat sits. As the old saying goes; inside every fat person is a thin one trying to get out. With this scan, you literally see the thin person. smile.gif

You can find them @ http://www.dexacpt.com/

dexa-obese.jpg
 
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Dont have to get so fancy. Just make sure your waistline is a respectable 34". You cant be overweight and still have a slim waist?
 
Dont have to get so fancy. Just make sure your waistline is a respectable 34". You cant be overweight and still have a slim waist?

At 34" I'm pretty overweight. Currently on a 'respectable' 30". ;)

For guys, especially, you tend to carry your excess fat above your waist-line so you can have a big boep hanging over your belt.

The thing you really need to get 'fancy' about is visceral fat. This is the stuff that kills you and, if you have a beer belly, you probably are carrying a LOT of it.

The only test I could find that can measure visceral fat is a DEXA scan. mine measured 100g, so I'm pretty chuffed.
 
How much does a scan like that cost?

According to the Virgin Active measuring machine, my body fat is 18%, and according to measurements taken with calipers, it is 18%. Still, when I look at photos online, my body fat looks closer to 20%.
 
Anyone know where this can be done in Jhb and how much it would cost?
 
At 34" I'm pretty overweight. Currently on a 'respectable' 30". ;)

For guys, especially, you tend to carry your excess fat above your waist-line so you can have a big boep hanging over your belt.

The thing you really need to get 'fancy' about is visceral fat. This is the stuff that kills you and, if you have a beer belly, you probably are carrying a LOT of it.

The only test I could find that can measure visceral fat is a DEXA scan. mine measured 100g, so I'm pretty chuffed.

Are you 30" over your navel or are you one of them that has a small hip and everything else hanging?

so gym and scale readings is
inaccurate and DEXA gave you 13% which isnt overweight at all?
 
Bioelectrical impedance scales are rubbish, as proven by the OP

You just need to think for a second how these things work to see why.

You stand on the scale, it effectively measures the impedance between your feet, i.e. up the one leg and straight down the other.

No way it can 'see' the fat around your middle. Or arse. :)

So, it basically guess.
 
Are you 30" over your navel or are you one of them that has a small hip and everything else hanging?

so gym and scale readings is
inaccurate and DEXA gave you 13% which isnt overweight at all?

Jannie-2015-01-31.jpg

This was taken at the same time as the 13% body fat reading.
 
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