What is a common adverse effect of high BMI when measuring body fat with calipers?

High body mass index (BMI) can lead to increased inaccuracy when using calipers for body fat measurement. As BMI rises, the distribution of fat in the body becomes more heterogeneous, making it difficult to obtain consistent and accurate measurements with calipers. This instrument typically measures subcutaneous fat at specific sites, but if an individual has a higher amount of visceral fat or a different fat distribution pattern, the caliper readings may not truly reflect the total body fat percentage. Additionally, technical challenges can arise, such as the difficulty in pinching thicker layers of fat or ensuring the calipers are applied at the correct angles, which can further contribute to measurement variability. Therefore, increased inaccuracy is a well-recognized limitation of using skinfold calipers among individuals with higher BMI.