Today, more than two-thirds of Americans are either overweight or obese, according to the Weight-Control Information Network. Knowing how much body fat you have on your body can help determine whether you are at an increased risk for a variety of serious and potentially life-threatening health conditions. Keeping tabs on your own body fat measurements can help you initiate steps to keep your weight and health under control.
Body Mass Index
Body mass index, or BMI, is commonly used to determine body fat because it is so easy to do and requires nothing more than a calculator and is a good indicator of health risks related to obesity, Harvard Medical School says. To determine your BMI, divide your weight in pounds by your height in inches squared and multiply the total by 703. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is normal, while those between 25 and 29.9 are considered overweight and those in excess of 30 are considered obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Waist Measurement
Another way to determine your body fat involves measuring the circumference of your waist, which can be done with a tape measure. A waist circumference greater than 35 inches in women or greater than 40 inches in men indicates obesity and may increase your risk for health conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart attack and stroke.
Waist-to-Hip Ratio
Another means by which you can determine your body fat and whether you are obese at home is by determining the ratio between your waist circumference and your hip circumference, Harvard Medical School says. Ratios greater than 0.85 in women and 0.9 in men increase your risk for obesity-related diseases and conditions.
Professional Methods
Medical and fitness professionals have other means at their disposal to precisely determine how much fat you carry on your body. The most accurate determinations involve placing a person in an air-displacement chamber or underwater so your body volume can be measured, according to the Weight-Control Information Network. An X-ray called Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry also works, but these methods require specialized equipment and trained professionals. Health and fitness professionals can also measure the layer of fat on your body with calipers or send electricity through the body to get a reading on body fat.
References
- Harvard Medical School: Beyond the Scale: How to Measure Whether You Are Fat or Not
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Healthy Weight: Assessing Your Weight
- Weight-Control Information Network: Understanding Adult Obesity
- Weight-Control Information Network: Weight and Waist Measurements: Tools for Adults
- Weight-Control Information Network: Statistics
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