There will be seperate assessments for both men and women. The women will be tested at the following 3 sites:
-Triceps (Vertical fold; on the posterior midline of the upper arm, halfway between the acromium and olecranon processes, with the arm held freely to the side of the body.)
-Suprailium (Diagonal fold; in line with the natural angle of the iliac crest taken in the anterior axillary line immediately superior to the iliac crest.)
-Thigh (Vertical fold; on the anterior midline of the thigh, midway between the promixal border of the patella and the inguinal crease (hip).)
The men will be tested at the following 3 sites:
-Chest (Diagonal fold; one-half the distance between the anterior axillary line and the nipple.)
-Abdomen (Vertical fold; 2 cm. to the right side of the umbilicus)
-Thigh (Vertical fold; on the anterior midline of the thigh, midway between the proximal border of the patella and the inguinal crease (hip).)
This test may be invasive, but it is very safe, and will cause no harm to the body. The skinfold calipers will be wiped down with alcohol wipes between every test. As the student is being tested, the test will be done in a private room. The test scores will remain confidential.
The Skinfold assessment is the most common way of testing body fat percentage and composition. This test determines the thickness of certain lcoations on the body, measuring subcutaneous adipose tissue lying under the skin. Skinfolds are taken on the right side of the body with a caliper, pinching the skin at certain sites, and pulling the skin away from the muscle to be able to get the correct measurement of the skin and fat. The skinfold thickness is measured in millimeters. Two measurements are recorded to take the average.
Preparation: You must come prepared wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Men may have to remove their shirt to properly assess the skinfold of the chest.
The skinfold assessment is 98% accurate. There are certain formulas for calculations to measure body fat percentage and composition. The second time the assessment is done, the measurements must be taken in the same areas and conditions as they were taken the first time.
