Body Fat Percentage (BFP)

Body Fat Percentage Calculator

It’s easy to determine your body weight, just jump on the scale. But what percentage of your total weight is fat? What percentage is lean muscle and bone? One way to find out is by using our body fat percentage calculator and a few simple measurements. The calculator uses specific body measurements and equations developed at the Naval Health Research Center to determine body fat levels of Navy personnel.

Why is calculating your body fat percentage important?

Obesity is the leading preventable cause of death worldwide and claims over 360,000 deaths each year in the U.S. alone. According to the CDC, 40% of the U.S. population are defined as obese. Obesity and excess body fat are responsible for obstructive sleep apnea and contribute to cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. Once you know your body fat percentages, you can design programs to add lean muscle as you reduce those fat stores.

How to use the body fat percentage calculator.

Using a tape measure, determine your waist, hip, and neck measurements. Input these measurements with your gender and height and our calculator will estimate your body fat percentage, lean muscle mass. To determine the weight of your body fat, subtract your lean mass from your total body weight. As an example, a 52-year-old male who is 65 inches tall and weighs 180 pounds and has a 37-inch waist, 18-inch neck, and 40-inch hips has a body fat percentage of 19.8% and a lean mass of 144 pounds.

• Use a tape measure that doesn’t stretch (try fiberglass).
• Round your measurements up or down to the nearest inch.
• Round your weight to the nearest pound.

Using your body fat percentage numbers.

Fat is stored in adipose tissue as subcutaneous fat (deep below your skin) or as visceral fat (fat located inside your abdominal cavity). While a small amount of fat is healthy, excess stored fat can have serious health implications. Calculating and then tracking your percentage of body fat allows you to target and reduce your stored fat as you build lean muscle.