The Body Fat Calculator can be used to estimate your total body fat using specific measurements. If you are more comfortable with the International System of Units (SI), select the “Metric Units” tab. To achieve the best results, round to the nearest 1/4 inch (0.5 cm). This computation is based on the U.S. Navy approach, but it also includes the BMI method for calculating body fat % (which is described below).

Reference

The American Council on Exercise Body Fat Categorization

Jackson & Pollock Ideal Body Fat Percentages

Body Fat, Overweight, and Obesity

The scientific word for bodily fat is “adipose tissue.” Adipose tissue serves several vital roles. Its principal function is to store lipids, from which the body derives energy. It also secretes a variety of vital hormones and acts as a cushion and insulation for the body. Body fat consists of both necessary and store fat. Essential body fat is a basic type of fat found in most regions of the body. It is an essential lipid that supports life and reproductive activities. The amount of essential fat varies by gender, with men typically having 2-5% and women having 10-13%. The healthy range of body fat for men is commonly regarded as 8-19%, while for women it is 21-33%.  While excess body fat can have many negative effects on a person’s health, insufficient body fat can also have negative health effects, and maintaining a body fat percentage below, or even within, the essential body fat percentage range is something that should be discussed with a doctor.

Storage fat is fat that accumulates in adipose tissue, whether it is subcutaneous fat (deep beneath the dermis and wrapped around important organs) or visceral fat (fat placed within the abdominal cavity and between organs), and it is generally referred to as body fat. While some stored fat is beneficial, excessive quantities can have major negative health consequences.

Excess body fat causes overweight and, eventually, obesity if insufficient efforts are made to reduce rising body fat. It’s important to note that being overweight does not always imply having too much body fat. A person’s body weight is determined by a variety of characteristics such as body fat, muscle, bone density, and water content. As a result, people with a lot of muscle are frequently considered overweight.

The rate at which body fat accumulates varies from person to person and is influenced by a variety of factors, including genetics and behavioral factors such as inactivity and overeating. Certain people may have a more difficult time losing abdominal fat due to a variety of causes. However, balancing food and exercise has been demonstrated to help reduce stored fat. It’s worth noting that both men and women retain body fat differently, and this might vary over time. Reduced sexual hormones around the age of 40 (or menopause in some circumstances for women) can cause excess body fat around the stomach in men and the buttocks and thighs in women.

Potential Complications of Excess Body Fat

Obesity is classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the main preventable causes of mortality globally, accounting for 111,909 to 365,000 deaths in the United States per year. This has become a rising source of concern, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classified 36.5% of US adults as obese.

Obesity is linked to a lower quality of life, poorer mental health outcomes, obstructive sleep apnea, and a number of leading causes of death around the world, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, specific malignancies, and diabetes. All of these potential problems have the potential to shorten a person’s life expectancy, making obesity a medical disease under investigation by many researchers.

As previously said, fat creates a number of important hormones that influence a person’s body. An excess or deficiency of essential hormones might have detrimental consequences that prevent healthy bodily function. On a similar topic, research has shown that extra body fat, particularly abdominal fat, impairs the natural balance and action of certain of these hormones. Furthermore, body fat, particularly visceral fat, has a function in the release of certain cytokines, which are a large class of proteins involved in cell communication and may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Visceral fat is also linked to higher levels of LDL cholesterol, reduced HDL cholesterol, and insulin resistance.  LDL cholesterol is often referred to as “bad cholesterol,” whereas HDL is known as “good cholesterol.” High amounts of LDL cholesterol can clog arteries, causing issues such as heart attacks. Insulin resistance occurs when cells do not respond correctly to the hormone insulin, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels and, eventually, type 2 diabetes. As can be seen, extra visceral fat can have a significant negative impact on one’s health.

Measuring Body Fat Percentage

US Navy Method

There are numerous particular procedures for assessing body fat. Hodgdon and Beckett devised an equation-based technique at the Naval Health Research Center in 1984, which is used by the calculator shown above. The procedure for measuring the relevant bodily components, as well as the specific equations employed, are described below:

Measure the subject’s waist circumference horizontally around the navel for men and at the level with the smallest breadth for women. To get precise measures, make sure the patient is not pulling their stomach inwards.

Measure the circumference of the subject’s neck from below the larynx, sloping downhill to the front. The individual should avoid extending their neck outward.

For women only: Measure the circumference of the subject’s hips at the widest horizontal point.

Once these measures are acquired, use the methods below to estimate body fat. Two equations are supplied, one using the United States Customary System (USC), which utilizes inches, and the other using the International System of Units, especially the centimeter.

BMI Method:

Another method for estimating body fat percentage is to use BMI. The BMI Calculator provides an estimate of BMI for use with the BMI technique, as well as more information on how BMI is calculated, its implications, and limits. To summarize, BMI is calculated using formulas that require a person’s height and weight measurements. Given BMI, the following formulas can be used to calculate a person’s body fat percentage.

Body fat percentage (BFP) formula for adult males:

BFP = 1.20 × BMI + 0.23 × Age – 16.2

Body fat percentage (BFP) formula for adult females:

BFP = 1.20 × BMI + 0.23 × Age – 5.4

Body fat percentage (BFP) formula for boys:

BFP = 1.51 × BMI – 0.70 × Age – 2.2

Body fat percentage (BFP) formula for girls:

BFP = 1.51 × BMI – 0.70 × Age + 1.4