With temptations of pumpkin pie, turkey with gravy and honey ham just weeks away Camp Pendleton fitness centers are doing their best to keep healthy waistlines from disappearing.

While a measuring tape may be the conventional waist-measuring method, Marine Corps Community Services has taken an innovative approach when it comes to measuring fat.

The Paige Field house, 21 Area Fitness Center and the 52 Area Fitness Center all offer multiple ways to make you aware of your body-fat percentage.

According to Roxanne Casinio, personal trainer, Paige Field house, MCCS, skin fold calipers is a tool to help measure body fat. The examiner uses the tool to pinch subcutaneous body fat on different body sites. The skin fold measurements from calipers are put into an appropriate formula specific to gender, ethnicity and age to predict body-fat percentage.

The Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) which is a test that is based on resistance to an electrical current applied to the body through the hands.

The less recorded resistance, the greater the water content and the less amount of fat.

“A higher density represents a greater amount of fat-free mass and lower amount of body fat,” said Casinio.

If a service member uses the test and sees that 15 pounds of their weight is body fat, they then have a goal they can work toward to help improve his fitness, explained Lance Cpl. Joe L. Barr, Semper Fit specialist, 53 Area Fitness Center.

Using these newer methods improves accuracy over the traditional measure tape way of assessing your fat.

As we approach the holidays, it’s important to enjoy our meals but also critical to watch our fitness and stay in shape, said E. Ray Jr., manager, 53 Area Fitness Center, MCCS, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

Staying in shape is easier for some than others, but the testing is one thing that was an easy process for all.

“Working out is a huge part of my life,” said Lance Cpl. Christopher J. Galliher, postal clerk, Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. “I was very curious to see what my body percentage looked like, not only for my appearance but also for my health.”

Knowing body-fat percentage is an important component in a health and fitness profile because it allows the opportunity for troops to see where they stand ideally, and it is not a one-size-fits-all assessment, said Casinio. A BIA takes into consideration specific characteristics such as gender, ethnicity and age.

For more information on body fat testing or for a consultation, contact your local fitness center.