Your body fat percentage is the percentage of your total body weight that's due to fat. It's generally a more significant indicator of fitness than total body weight, since it takes body composition into account. The determination of your body fat percentage will require you to take a few measurements of your body. You'll use these measurements to estimate your lean body mass, which you can use to calculate your body fat percentage.
Step 1
Weigh yourself when you first wake up to ensure that your water weight is at its lowest level. Use a scale that measures your weight in pounds.
Step 2
Measure your waist at your navel. Also measure your hips, wrist and forearm at their widest points if you're female. All of these measurements must be in inches.
Step 3
Calculate your lean body mass for females using this formula: (0.732 x weight) - (0.157 x waist) + (wrist / 3.14) + (0.434 x forearm) -- (0.249 x hips) + 8.987. For example, assume you're a 147-lb. female with a 27-inch waist, your wrist measurement is 6 inches, your forearm measurement is 10 inches and your hips measure 40 inches. Your lean body mass is (0.732 x 147) - (0.157 x 27) + (6 / 3.14) + (0.434 x 10) -- (0.249 x 40) + 8.987 = 109 lb.
Step 4
Compute your lean body mass for males using this formula (1.082 x weight) -- (4.15 x waist) + 94.42. For example, assume you're a 187-lb. male with a 33-inch waist. Your lean body mass is (1.082 x 187) -- (4.15 x 33) + 94.42 = 160 lb.
Step 5
Derive your body fat percentage from your lean body mass using this formula: (body weight - lean body mass) x 100 / (body weight). Assume you weigh 147 lb. and have a lean body mass of 109 lb. You have (147 - 109) x 100 / 147 = 25.9 percent body fat.
Things You'll Need
- Scale
- Tape measure
- Calculator
Member Comments