Body comp/BMR test

DEXA scan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_en...absorptiometry dexa scan

The most accurate way to measure body composition will be by underwater weighing. However, that's a little harder to gain access to so if you're serious about it your best bets are either a DEXA scan or BodPod.

Calipers and handheld/scale units (stuff they might have in a gym) have a pretty big margin of error.

Pretty decent blog series about the different methods available:
http://weightology.net/weightologyweekly/?page_id=146

BodPod also does resting metabolic rate I think. However, in my experience the Bod Pod was actually the least accurate of all the tests I had done. DEXA would be the one to go with if you're white (it's calibrated for ethnically white bone densities IIRC) or hydrostatic weighing, which I still think is the most foolproof.

Most accurate method is probably going to be direct calorimetry where you put someone in a chamber and measure energy as the amount of heat released.

The most common method is probably going to be some kind of indirect calorimetry, which measures oxygen consumption, which can then be used to calculate caloric expenditure. There are various devices out there that can take pretty accurate measurements. Keep in mind you have to follow a strict protocol to get true BMR (including taking measurements shortly after waking, after an overnight fast). If they offer it at your gym it is probably not truly BMR, but resting metabolic rate.


The following device was being marketed pretty heavily to gyms to measure RMR and it's pretty easy to use. I'm not sure on the accuracy. There use to be a bunch on ebay that were pretty cheap when the company went under (before someone bought it out and released it again).
http://metabolicratetest.com/

The BodPod I used didn't do it, but there probably are versions that do. For me it was also less accurate, but I think it depends on the person. With really lean individuals it tends to underestimate (told me I had 3.7%BF) while DEXA said I was around 7%. I'm skinny, but not pro-body builder skinny. As for metabolic rate, like gradstudent said the most accurate way involves measuring the actual heat your body generates, however that's a much more expensive way to do it.

Does anyone offer that for your average person?

Just out of curiosity why do you need one of these tests?

1. OCD

2. white people problems

i'm curious about the answer to a slightly different question - what is the most accurate test for someone who wants to conveniently do it in his own home? assume i'm willing to pay a reasonable price for the home equipment?

For body composition:
For an individual with little training and doing it by themselves, probably some kind of high end bioelectrical impedance, something like this (this is for example, there may be better machines out there, I'm not familar enough with the variety of BIA devices to truly recommend one high end BIA device over another):
http://www.bodycompscale.com/bcs_3_details.shtml
Notice the price is $3,895.00.


However, your still sacrificing accuracy for convenience and for the cost your probably better off getting it tested somewhere by a more accurate means.

Gastric bypass clinics often have them. Since many bypass surgeons are solely interested in money, just pay the price and they'll give you a ticket.