Knowing your body fat percentage can provide you with a more accurate measure of physical fitness and health than other commonly used measures like body mass index or weight. Using your body fat percentage along with percentage weight loss can help you set goals and gauge your fitness progress. For the most accurate measures of body fat percentage, you should consult with a fitness professional at a gym or university, but for a rough estimate you can use at-home measurements or online calculators.
Calculate Body Fat Percentage With a Scale
Step 1
Purchase or borrow a home scale that has bioelectrical impedance analysis, or BIA, incorporated into its technology.
Step 2
Follow the specific instructions on the monitor, entering your personal information into the machine. Typically this includes information on your height, weight, age and activity level.
Step 3
Stand on the machine while it calculates your body fat percentage. This technology transmits a tiny electrical impulse through your body, timing how long it takes to return to the system. The impulse passes more easily through muscle and fluid than it does fat, so the longer it takes for the impulse to pass through the body, the greater the percentage of body fat.
Calculate Body Fat Percentage Online
Step 1
Log onto the Internet to access a percentage body fat calculator. Find a calculator by using a search engine to search for "body fat percentage calculator." These calculators use body measurements to estimate body fat percentage. Different calculators request different body measurements, but common measurements include: neck, waist at the narrowest point, hips at the widest point, wrist and forearm.
Step 2
Use your tape measure to measure the requested body parts.
Step 3
Enter the measurements into the website along with any other personal information requested. Common requests include sex, age and activity level.
Step 4
Allow the system to calculate your body fat.
Calculate Percentage Weight Lost
Step 1
Weigh yourself using a home scale. This will provide you with your baseline weight.
Step 2
Remeasure your weight periodically.
Step 3
Subtract your new weight calculation from your baseline weight. This provides you with your total weight lost.
Step 4
Divide your total weight lost by your baseline weight.
Step 5
Multiply your answer by 10 to determine your percentage weight lost.
Tips and Warnings
- Weigh yourself at the same time of day on the same day of the week in order to control external factors that could impact your weight.
- No body fat calculation or weight calculation is 100 percent accurate. Use your calculations as guidelines to help you make changes and monitor progress.
Things You'll Need
- Body fat scale
- Internet connection
- Tape measure
- Calculator
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