Lean body mass is the weight of your body excluding body fat. Measuring lean body mass, also called LBM, is important to medical professionals who use the measurement as an aid for determining correct medication dosages and to calculate how well body organs are functioning. LBM is also important to athletes and dieters as it can indicate whether you are gaining or losing muscle mass rather than fat.
Step 1
Get an accurate reading of your total body weight using a weight scale. Record your weight.
Step 2
Take body measurements. Required measurements depend on whether you are male or female. If you are male, measure your waist, positioning the measuring tape at your bellybutton. Record your waist measurement.
If you are female, measure your waist the same way as for a male. In addition, measure your wrist, forearm and hip at the widest points. Record these measurements.
Step 3
Perform required calculations, depending on whether you are male or female. The result is the measurement of your lean body mass in pounds.
If you are male, perform the following calculations:
A. Multiply your body weight by 1.082
B. Add this result to 94.42
C. Multiply your waist measurement by 4.15
D. Subtract this result from the calculated weight result you obtained in step B.
E. Result = lean body mass
If you are female, perform the following calculations:
A. Multiply your body weight by 0.732
B. Add this result to 8.987
C. Divide your wrist measurement by 3.14
D. Multiply your waist measurement by 0.157
E. Multiply your hip measurement by 0.249
F. Multiply your forearm measurement by 0.434
G. Add the calculated weight result you obtained in step B to the wrist measurement you obtained in step C.
H. Subtract your calculated waist measurement from step D from the result obtained in step G.
I. Subtract your calculated hip measurement from the result obtained in the previous calculation.
J. Add your calculated forearm measurement from step F to the result obtained in the previous calculation.
K. Result = lean body mass
Tips and Warnings
- Example for a male: Body weight is 180 lbs. and waist measurement is 36 inches. A. 180.0 x 1.082 = 194.76 B. 194.76 + 94.42 = 289.18 C. 36.0 x 4.14 = 149.40 D. 289.18 – 149.40 = 139.78 E. Lean body mass = 139.78 lbs Example for a woman: Body weight is 125 lbs., waist measurement is 24 in., wrist measurement is 6 in., hip measurement is 38 in. and forearm measurement is 9.5 in. A. 125.0 x 0.732 = 91.50 B. 91.50 + 8.987 = 100.48 C. 6.0 / 3.14 = 1.91 D. 24.0 x 0.157 = 3.77 E. 38.0 x 0.249 = 9.46 F. 9.5 x 0.434 = 4.12 G. 100.48 + 1.91 = 102.39 H. 102.39 - 3.77 = 98.62 I. 98.62 - 9.46 = 89.16 J. 89.16 + 4.12 = 93.28 K. Lean body mass = 93.28 lbs.
Things You'll Need
- Weight scale
- Measuring tape
- Calculator
- Paper
- Pencil
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