Although Body Mass Index calculates how overweight you are and your risk for disease, it doesn’t factor how much of your weight is made up of lean muscle tissue and bones. Muscular individuals often weigh more than individuals who look to be the same size but have more fat. As a result, it is good to calculate your Body Fat, which tells you how many pounds of your body is made up of fat and how much is made up of lean muscle tissue.
Several types of tests are used to measure Body Fat, including: water displacement, skin fold measurements and bioelectrical impedance. Although water displacement is most accurate, most gyms only offer the last two types.
Calculate your Body Fat and LBM
If you can’t have your body fat calculated by a fitness professional, you can calculate an approximate percentage by taking the following measurements and entering them into the form below:
- Body Weight in Pounds
- Waist Circumference
- Women: taken at thinnest point
- Men: taken at height of navel
- Hip Circumference:* taken at the widest point
- Wrist Circumference:* taken at the widest point
- Forearm Circumference:* taken at the widest point
* Measurements only apply to females.
Lean Body Mass Ranges
Just like the Body Mass Index, your Body Fat Percentage provides you another way to gain insight into your level of health. The table below explains the classifications of Body Fat Percentages, as determined by the American Council of Exercise.
| Classification | Female | Male | Further Defined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Too Low | < 12% | < 2% | This is completely unhealthy, unsustainable and is dangerous to your health. |
| Essential Fat | 12 - 15% | 2 - 5% | This is the bare minimum required for living. |
| Athletes | 16 - 20% | 6 - 13% | This range is mainly found in serious athletes. It is still a healthy amount and ensures you have sufficient fat stores in your body. |
| Fitness | 21 - 24% | 14 - 17% | This indicates a good level of fitness - a healthy range for most people. |
| Acceptable | 25 - 31% | 18 - 25% | Although not optimal, most people fall somewhere into this category. If you do, you might want to look at losing some weight and gaining some muscle. |
| Obese | > 32% | > 25% | This is too high and can cause medical problems. |
