Intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT), a novel fat-depot linked with metabolic abnormalities has been measured by whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The cross-sectional slice location with the strongest relation to total body IMAT volume has not been established. The aim was to determine the predictive value of each slice location and which slice locations provide the best estimates of whole-body IMAT. MRI quantified total adipose tissue (TAT) of which IMAT, defined as AT visible within the boundary of the muscle fascia, is a sub-component. Single slice IMAT areas were calculated for the calf, thigh, buttock, waist, shoulders, upper arm, and forearm locations in a sample of healthy adult women: African-American (n=39; BMI 28.5±5.4 kg/m2; 41.8±14.8 years), Asian (n=21; BMI 21.6 ±3.2 kg/m2; 40.9±16.3 years), Caucasian (n=43; BMI 25.6±5.3 kg/m2; 43.2±15.3 years) and Caucasian men (n=39; BMI 27.1±3.8 kg/m2; 45.2±14.6 years) and used to estimate total IMAT groups using multiple regression equations. Mid-thigh was the best, or near best, single predictor in all groups with adjusted R² ranging from 0.49 to 0.84. Adding a 2^nd and 3^rd slice further increased R² and reduced the error of the estimate. Menopausal status and degree of obesity did not affect the location of the best slice. The contributions of other slice locations varied by sex and race but additional slices improved predictions. For group studies, it may be more cost-effective to estimate IMAT based on one or more slices than to acquire and segment for each subject the numerous images necessary to quantify whole-body IMAT.