Body mass comes in two forms. You have fat mass, which is the amount of fat present on your body, and you have lean body mass, which is all the rest of the tissue on your body. This includes skin, muscles, bones, teeth, fluids and connective tissue. To find your body mass, you need to use a body mass index (BMI) equation. This can be done by following several basic steps.
Step 1
Measure your heightf. Take off your shoes and stand with your back to a wall. Place a small mark on the wall at the top of your head. Use a tape measure to get your height in inches. Convert your height from inches to meters squared. Here's an example for a person 6 feet, or 72 inches tall. Multiply 72 x .0254 and you get 1.83 meters. Now square it (multiply it by itself) and you get 3.35 meters.
Step 2
Determine your weight. Step onto the scale first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with as little clothing on as possible. Convert your weight in pounds to kilograms. Here's an example using a 200 lb. person. Multiply 200 x .4536 and you get 90.72 kg.
Step 3
Divide your weight by your height to determine your body mass. Using out 6-foot tall, 200 lb. person, take 90.72 and divide it by 3.35. This person's body mass index is 27.
Step 4
Compare your body mass to a chart to see how you rate. An adult body mass less than 18.5 is considered underweight, 18.5 to 24.9 is considered normal, 25 to 29.9 is overweight and anything over 30 is considered obese. The example from step 3 would be considered overweight.
Things You'll Need
- Pencil
- Tape measure
- Scale
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