Research

Method Comparison

Compare body fat estimation methods, measurement requirements and published sources.

6 sources

Content last reviewed: February 11, 2026

What the evidence says

The sources report errors for specific equations and study populations. These results are not personal confidence intervals.

Durnin-Womersley (age-specific equations)

U.S. Navy Method (height and circumferences)

Jackson-Pollock 3-Site (sex-specific skinfold sites)

Jackson-Pollock 7-Site

DEXA (laboratory method; Wagner & Heyward, 1999)

Hydrostatic weighing (laboratory method; Wagner & Heyward, 1999)

The sources report errors for specific equations and study populations. These results are not personal confidence intervals.

Field Method Comparison
Method	Error evidence	Required measurements	Equipment	Method sources
Jackson-Pollock 7-Site	No general error range verified	Age and 7 skinfolds	Skinfold calipers	Jackson & Pollock (1978), men; Jackson, Pollock & Ward (1980), women
Durnin-Womersley	In the study of 209 men and 272 women aged 16–72, Table 9 reports errors within ±3.5 percentage points for women and ±5 for men in two-thirds of cases, compared with underwater weighing.	Age and 4 skinfolds	Skinfold calipers	Durnin & Womersley (1974), Table 9
Jackson-Pollock 3-Site	No general error range verified	Age and 3 skinfolds: chest, abdomen and thigh for men; triceps, suprailiac and thigh for women	Skinfold calipers	Jackson & Pollock (1978), men; Jackson, Pollock & Ward (1980), women
U.S. Navy	No general error range verified	Height, neck and waist; hips also required for women	Soft tape measure and a reliable way to measure standing height	Hodgdon & Beckett (1984), men: Report 84-11; women: Report 84-29

Wagner, D.R., & Heyward, V.H. (1999). “Techniques of body composition assessment: a review of laboratory and field methods.” Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 70(2), 135-149. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.1999.10608031
Jackson, A.S., & Pollock, M.L. (1978). Generalized equations for predicting body density of men. British Journal of Nutrition, 40(3), 497-504. https://doi.org/10.1079/BJN19780152
Jackson, A.S., Pollock, M.L., & Ward, A. (1980). Generalized equations for predicting body density of women. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 12(3). https://doi.org/10.1249/00005768-198023000-00009
Durnin, J.V.G.A., & Womersley, J. (1974). Body fat assessed from total body density and its estimation from skinfold thickness: measurements on 481 men and women aged from 16 to 72 years. British Journal of Nutrition, 32(1), 77-97. https://doi.org/10.1079/BJN19740060
Hodgdon, J.A., & Beckett, M.B. (1984). Prediction of percent body fat for U.S. Navy men from body circumferences and height. Naval Health Research Center Report No. 84-11. https://doi.org/10.21236/ADA143890
Hodgdon, J.A., & Beckett, M.B. (1984). Prediction of percent body fat for U.S. Navy women from body circumferences and height. Naval Health Research Center Report No. 84-29. https://doi.org/10.21236/ADA146456