Below are details on the girth measurment technique, which is acceptable as an alternate body composition technique. Skinfold is recommended though. The following is from Hoeger & Hoeger, Principles and Labs for Physical Fitness (3rd ed.):

Girth Measurements for Women

1.  Using a regular tape measure, determine the following girth measurements in centimeters:
Upper arm:  take the measure halfway between the shoulder and the elbow.

Hip: measure at the point of largest circumference.

Wrist: take the girth in front of the bones where the wrist bends.

2.  Obtain the person’s age.

3.  Using the table provided by the instructor (below), find the girth measurement for each site and age in the left-hand column below.  Look up the constant values in the right-hand column.  These values will allow you to derive body density (BD) by substituting the constants in the followingformula:

BD = A - B - C + D

4.  Using the derived body density, calculate percent body fat (%BF) according to the Siri equation:    %BF = (495/BD) - 450

Example: Jane is 20 years old, and the following girth measurements were taken:

Data   Constant

Upper arm =  27.0cm A = 1.0813

Age =  20 B = .0102

Hip =  99.5cm C = .1206

Wrist =  15.4cm D = .0971

BD = A - B - C + D

BD = 1.0813 - .0102 - .1206 + .0971 = 1.0476

%BF = (495/BD) - 450

%BF = (495/1.0476) - 450 = 22.5%  

Girth Measurements for Men

1.  Using a regular tape measure, determine the following girth measurements in inches (the men’s measurements are taken in inches, as opposed to centimeters for women):

Waist:  measure at the umbilicus (belly button)

Wrist:  measure in front of the bones where the wrist flexes.

2.  Subtract the wrist from the waist measurement.

3.  Obtain the weight of the subject in lbs.

4.  Find the %BF in the attached table.  

Example:  John weighs 160 lbs. and his girth measurements are:

Waist girth = 36.5 inches

Wrist girth = 7.5 inches

Difference = 29.0 inches

Body weight = 160.0 lbs.

%BF = 22 %

• Girth Measurements Table Female