Covert Bailey's home body fat test

Just curious as to accuracy of results at this site. I would be very pleased with results which give me a BF of 10.8 %. Other sites using the same numbers go as high as 20 %. My omicron at home is usually 15%. Seems I could just dive into my pool and measure the water displaced and get as accurate a result ( just kidding). Any comments on these sites? thanks BobM

I don't know anything about it but I measured with that test today and got a number 2.7% less than when I was measured at the gym 2 months ago. I haven't seen a visible change so maybe the change can be accounted for by the inaccuracy of the test. I'd like to hear the answer to this as well!

 It's a guesstimate, but it tracks most caliper and bio-impedance tests to within +/- 2% so it's close enough for government work. Especially when you consider that bio-impedance tests have an error margin of +/-8%, and caliper tests from an inexperienced practitioner is worse than a guess.

 A caliper test administered by an experienced practitioner tracks a DEXA scan to within +/- 0.5% but either of those are bleeping expensive.

 For most home use, the Covert Baily test is close enough and lets you work out a handy-dandy trend line; as long as your measurements are improving the exact details aren't really very important I think.

Thanks melkor and in general I agree however 2 points would be 1) at others sites with same data input results are far different 10.8 vs 19-20% and 2) Seeing a change at 10.8 bf will be more difficult I suspect then seeing a change at 20%. I really don't think I'm at 10.8% bf. I suppose seeing inches decrease will be of help, but I'm satisfied with my weight but just can't seem to get love handles to go away. Fat in other places seems ok. In the end I guess my ego is happier seeing 10.8% bf vs 19% bf...lol. Thanks again BobM

I was wondering about this test too it gives me a body fat rating of 18.8% which of course im pretty happy with concidering my home scales say im 23% and the gym scales say 26% while most other online cal's put me in the 25% area.

Under normal circumstances i'd dismiss this test because the votes are against it, but i hear it suggested so many times as "the one" to use i have to wonder.

 

Wow, a BF of 10.8%!! That seems quite low to me. At my BEST leanest hard body I ever was able to have I was at a 17%. I'm 5'2" and weighed 114 wore a size 2.

Original Post by jeninsocal:

Wow, a BF of 10.8%!! That seems quite low to me. At my BEST leanest hard body I ever was able to have I was at a 17%. I'm 5'2" and weighed 114 wore a size 2.

I think men can have a lower % body fat than women though... (I'm assuming you're a woman and the OP is a guy).  So 17% on a guy would probably look bigger than on a girl.

At 10% body fat, there'd be no love handles that's for sure.  My trainer is at 17% and she is definitely in the hard-body category.  I've never had the nerve to ask other ladies their bf% numbers ;D

Like Melkor said, what's important is using the same measure consistently over time to track progress.  I've read that bf% readings can vary based upon the time of day, hydration levels and other factors.  I try to measure mine the same time and day of the week to be relatively consistent over time.

Original Post by dreamsyncd:

At 10% body fat, there'd be no love handles that's for sure.

Yup! If you weight lift some then you should have some defined abs at that BF. Basically if you can't see your abs AT ALL then your probably over 15% BF, note that this is for MEN.