There are many different ways to calculate body fat percentage, but the easiest way to calculate body fat content is more accurate and less complicated than other types available. Peter Katzmarzyk, associate executive director for population science at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, says fat is more important than weight. But you must know your weight in order to find out your body fat percentage. You won't need a calculator or any other type of gadget.
Step 1
Take your height in inches. Remove shoes and bulky clothing before you measure. Have someone help you take your height if needed.
Step 2
Multiply five by the number of inches over the height of 5 feet for females or multiply six to every inch over 5 feet for men. For instance, if you are a female with a height of 5 feet, 7 inches, you would multiply five by seven. This example would give you a number of 35. For a male who is 5 feet, 11 inches, multiply six by 11. This equals 66.
Step 3
Add 100 to the results to find your ideal weight. This would be 135 lbs. from the example given for females and 166 pounds from the example given for males.
Step 4
Use the Body Mass Index table provided from the National Heart Blood and Lung Institute to find your body fat percentage. Find your height in inches on the left-hand side of the table. Use the table row to find your weight. The column where your weight corresponds on the table indicates your body fat percentage. A shaded chart also reveals whether your body fat percentage is normal, overweight, obese or extreme obese.
Tips and Warnings
- Persons with a body fat percentage above average run a higher risk for having serious medical condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and osteoarthritis, among others. The BMI table provides an estimate for getting a general idea of what your body fat percentage is. It is an easy method, but it may not be 100 percent accurate. Your weight does not indicate the mass of muscles and other body parts. A person with more muscle mass may weight more, but have less body fat content. In addition, this method does not account for the weight of other body parts, such as in the case of a person with a missing organ or limb. According to the Calorie Control Council, the BMI tables are not intended for those who are younger than 18 and those who less than 5 feet or over 7 feet tall.
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- BMI chart
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