This Pollock equation allows to calculate the percentage of body fat of a woman by measuring the thickness of three folds: tricipital, abdominal and suprailiac.
Required material:
- plicometer
- felt tip pen
- tape measure
PROTOCOL OF EXECUTION:
Determine the measurement in mm of the following plications using a professional skinfolder:
Triceps : the fold is taken vertically, in the middle of the measured arm flexed;
Abdominal : the fold is taken vertically (or horizontally depending on the authors), 2 cm lateral to the navel;
Overiliac : the plica is taken obliquely, just above the iliac crest.
The correct detection technique is FUNDAMENTAL in order not to introduce measurement errors. The following guidelines must therefore be respected:
- Carry out the measurements on the left side of the body by convention (without taking into account the preference side of the subject, unless the left is impossible or you want to detect both or just the right for rehabilitation problems). On the other hand, in the literature there are also authors who advise to carry out the surveys on the right side of the body.
- Identify the site and mark it with a lapographic paper.
- Hold the caliper with the right hand and grasp a fold between the thumb and forefinger of the left hand, trying to detach the underlying muscle tissue.
- The fingers must be 8 cm apart, on a line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the panniculus.
- Exercise pressure with the right hand to separate the branches of the gauge, apply the gauge to the base holding it at 90 °.
- Always keep the fold between your fingers and release the caliper pressure slowly.
- Read after 2 seconds.
- Open the gauge, remove it and close it slowly.
- Repeat the measurement 2 times (with at least 2 minutes interval to allow the plica to return to the incompressed form) and then average. If the two measurements vary between them more than 10% need to perform a third one.
ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS:
Use the following formula to calculate your body fat percentage:
S = sum of the three folds
E = age
d = 1.0902369 - 0.0009379 * S + 0.0000026 * S² - 0.00000979 * E
Total Body Fat [%] = 495 / d - 450
Or enter the fold size in the following table:
