On Sun, 19 Nov 2000, Philip Thrift wrote:

> Go to a fitness center with a trained professional.
> The caliper method is typically used and is
> probably a good estimate -- at least to see what range below it
> is in. The hydrostatic method may be more
> accurate.

Since I teach at a university, we have an athletics department
that does these things, primarly for the sports teams (St. Joe's
Hawks) but also as a service to the rest of the university
community.  I have found a very close agreement between these two
methods of measurement.

> I have found the electrical impedence method totally
> worthless.

I haven't found this to be so.  The electrical impedance methods
has also yielded results very consistent with the other two
methods.  I gather that there is great difference in quality
among the impedance devices, however.

> BODY FAT PERCENTAGES
> Fat Level    Men         Women
>
> Very Low    7-10         14-17
> Low        10-13         17-20
> Average    13-17         20-27
> High       17-25         27-31
> Very High   > 25         >  31

Yes, and I tend to fluctuate between the high end of average and
the low end of high, as you already pointed out.  I have once or
twice forced myself down to the low BF range, by rigorous caloric
restriction and intense exercise, but I couldn't stay there.  It
was just too hard.  As I've already indicated, it is also pretty
difficult for me to stay in the average range.  That is, it takes
a great deal of mental energy to keep rejecting so many different
kinds of foods.  But it can be done.

Todd Moody
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