Which body fat measurement method uses a caliper to estimate the thickness of skinfolds?

The method that uses a caliper to estimate the thickness of skinfolds is known as skinfold measurement. This approach involves pinching certain areas of the skin to measure the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer, which provides an estimate of overall body fat percentage.

Skinfold measurement is a practical and cost-effective technique that can be performed in various settings, making it accessible for fitness professionals and researchers. Using calipers allows for a relatively quick assessment, and when done correctly, it can provide valuable information about an individual’s body composition. This method relies on the principle that a higher thickness of skinfold is indicative of a greater amount of body fat stored subcutaneously.

Other methods listed, such as hydrostatic weighing, bioelectrical impedance analysis, and computed tomography, employ different technologies and principles that do not involve the direct measurement of skinfold thickness with calipers. Hydrostatic weighing measures body density by comparing weight in air to weight in water, bioelectrical impedance analyzes the resistance of body tissues to electrical currents to estimate body fat, and computed tomography provides detailed images of body structures using X-rays, none of which involve skinfold measurements.