Body Fat Calculator

Import · October 28, 2002, 11:39am

After reading Norcross’ articles on Body Composition for Beginners, I wanted an easy way to do the calculations as described by the formulas in his articles. I checked out the links for the BF% calculators, but I thought they were garbage. They didn’t look good and they weren’t dynamic as there were four different calculators for Male 3 and 7 site, and Female 3 and 7 site. Just not very practical and horrible design.

I decided to design a new calculator for the T-maggers. I emailed it to T-mag hoping they would hook me up with a little something for my efforts, but I never heard back. Anyway, no big deal, I’ve learned a ton from T-mag and you guys.

In my opinion, the calculator is pretty self-explanatory, but here is how to use it.

Select your sex.
Enter your age.
Enter your measurements (in mm), 3 per site. Each site MUST have all 3 fields completed.
For a 3-site calculation, complete the 3-site portion of the form.
For a 7-site calculation, complete the entire form.
Click on the Calculate button.

Here's the link:
www.lehigh.edu/~dgh4/bfcalc.html

Please post any bugs you find or any suggestions you have. FYI, this was tested with IE 6.0 and uses Javascript.

I hope you guys and girls find this to be useful.

Import · October 28, 2002, 12:45pm

Good design and accuracy. Thanks!

Import · October 28, 2002, 1:57pm

Thanks! Great design and easy to use! If only we could go back and make addendums to past articles.

Import · October 28, 2002, 1:59pm

Since I can’t make an addendum to my article, why don’t you make sure to send a letter to Reader Mail, so that it could be added as a semi-addendum.

Import · October 28, 2002, 2:45pm

So the link for the bodyfat calculator you provided in your article is no good? I tried this one, there was only a .6% difference…

Import · October 28, 2002, 3:57pm

Here’s a way to never screw up: Get a pair of digital calipers that do the calculations for you.

Import · October 28, 2002, 4:39pm

D Rock, nice job. Had to jump in here because I saw you go to Lehigh…what year are you? I went for a year before transferring. Keep up the good work.

Import · October 28, 2002, 4:46pm

No, the link in my article still works perfectly fine. D_rock’s new simple one site layout is a bit more user friendly - that’s the only advantage. Well, D_rock’s new calculator also uses the same equations to convert body density to %body fat. At the Rusty Iron Body Fat Calculator, they use a slightly different (yet, still valid) equation and that is why you got the 0.6% variation.

Both sites work perfectly fine, but just have different layouts and use a slightly different equation to convert body density to body fat percentage. Bottome line - pick one site and stick with it. I'd refer to D_rock's site only because it is exactly in line with my article using the Brozek equatin to cnnvert body density to %BF, whereas, the Rusty Iron BF Calc uses the Siri equation.

Import · October 28, 2002, 5:05pm

Yea, my suggestion rocks- lol.

Import · October 28, 2002, 6:53pm

Steve Coppola: I am a member of the elite Super Senior Club, a little too much partying my first couple of years.

Jason Norcross (and all): Would you like me to include the other calculation as well? If so, just point me in the direction of where I can find it.

I'm glad everyone seems to like it.

Import · October 28, 2002, 10:27pm

No, I don’t think you need both equations. If anyone wants them, I can easily provide them.

What I'd love to see is an additional menu on the t-mag site with this body comp calculator (and a link to my article on the calculator so people know where to pinch), a Massive Eating Calculator (JMB has one on his site) and other appropriate calculators that would help facilitate some of the practical applications in some of the T-Mag articles.

Well, looks like I've got something to send into Reader Mail.