Yuhasz Skinfold Test

What's The Point?

Measuring body fat percentage is an easy method of assessing your body composition. Body weight alone will not tell you if you need to lose fat, but a body composition test can help you to discover your correct body weight and composition.

Whereas most tests use just three sites, the Yuhasz Skinfold test uses six sites for a more accurate assessment.

What's Needed?

• Calipers
   
• Yuhasz Skinfold assessment charts
   
• An Assistant

How Do You Do The Test?

• All skinfold measurements are taken on the right side of the body
   
• Measurements are in millimetres
   
• Apply the calipers about one centimetre from the fingers, at a depth about equal to the thickness of the fold
   
• Grasp the skinfold between thumb and index finger so as to include two thicknesses of skin and subcutaneous fat
   
• Gently release the pressure of the fingers so the greater pressure is exerted by the caliper
   
• Repeat three times at each location and take the average
   
• Measurements should be taken by the same person at the same time of day each time in order to standardise
   
• Add the results of each measurement to get a total value (in millimetres)
   
• Determine percent body fat using the calculator below

What Results Will I See?

Typical scores for men should be around 15 to 17% body fat, with elite athletes in the 6% to 12%.

The average female should have between 18 and 22% body fat, 12% to 20% for elite women athletes.

The following table shows typical scores for a range of different sports.

What's Being Measured Again?

This is a good way to measure body composition.