Gail, there are several different ways to do it, but they range widely in accuracy. The simplest way is to use an online calculator -- try a
Google search for body fat calculator, or use the one at
The Zone website, which I think is the most accurate of the online ones. All of these will vary widely, so look for one that uses height, weight, gender, and waist and hip measurements.
Gyms offer several different methods of testing body fat. The caliper method pinches up your skin at several very specific sites, and is supposedly quite accurate when properly done but difficult to do properly. My gym has a little hand-held gizmo that you plug your weight and height into, and it uses electrostatic resistance to determine your fat to muscle ratio. You can buy a Tanita body fat scale which works the same way. However, the accuracy of these is somewhat questionable and can be affected by stuff like the amount of water you've drunk in a day.
The final and most accurate method involves immersing you in a tank of water and using your buoyancy to calculate your body fat. However, even this isn't 100% accurate, as it can be affected by stuff like the amount of air in your lungs. Also, gyms often charge for this service, whereas you can use the hand-held body fat tester for free.
In summary, none of the methods you can do on your own are terribly accurate, and the ones that are involve considerable hassle. However, what's important isn't so much the accuracy of the individual method, but using one method consistently and watching your results. Any of these methods should be fine in the long run, because they will all show your BF% decreasing as you lose weight, and the drop is more important than the starting number!
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