Everyone has different body types, so one way of determining how close you are to your ideal weight is to determine your body fat percentage. This percentage allows you to determine how much of your weight is lean body mass and how much comes from fat. The most accurate measurements of your body fat percentage require complex measurements, such as those taken by immersing your body in water. More simply, you may get an estimate of your body fat percentage by measuring different parts of your body. All measurements used for these calculations should be in inches.
Lean Body Mass for Men
Step 1
Multiply your weight in pounds by 1.082 and add 94.42. For example, if you weigh 170 lbs., your calculation is (170 x 1.082) + 94.42 = 278.36.
Step 2
Measure your waist at your navel and multiply this number by 4.15. If you have a 36-inch waist, this number will be 36 x 4.15 = 149.4.
Step 3
Subtract your result in step 2 from your result in step 1. Using the above numbers, this will be 278.36 - 149.4 = 128.96. According to DaveDraper.com, this is your lean body mass.
Lean Body Mass for Women
Step 1
Multiply your body weight in pounds by 0.732 and add 8.987. For a 120-lb. woman, this calculation equals 96.827.
Step 2
Measure your waist at your navel and multiply this by 0.157. If you have a 26-inch waist, the result will be 4.082.
Step 3
Measure your hips at their widest point and multiply by 0.249. A hip circumference of 38 would result in a calculation equaling 9.462.
Step 4
Measure your wrist's circumference at its widest point and divide by 3.14. A woman with 6-inch wrists would have a result of 1.91.
Step 5
Measure the circumference of your forearm and multiply by 0.434. A 10-inch forearm would have a calculation that equals 4.34.
Step 6
Add your values from steps 1, 4 and 5 and subtract your numbers from steps 2 and 3. Using the above numbers, you would use the following calculation: 96.827 + 1.91 + 4.34 - 4.082 - 9.462 = 89.53. This is your lean body mass, according to BMI Calculator.
Body Fat Percentage Calculation
Step 1
Subtract your lean body mass from your total weight. Using the results from the first section, this would be 170 - 128.96 = 41.04. This number is your total body fat.
Step 2
Divide your total body fat by your total weight. A sample calculation would be 41.04 divided by 170, equaling 0.241.
Step 3
Multiply your result in step 2 by 100 to get your body fat percentage. Using the above numbers, your body fat percentage would be 24.1.
Things You'll Need
- Scale
- Tape measure
Member Comments