Body Fat Percentage Calculator
Easily calculate your body fat percentage with this simple calculator. Although there are more accurate methods (hydrostatic weight, skinfold calipers), you can still use this method to track any changes that appear.
Related Calculators
Weight Loss Percentage Calculator
Ideal Body Weight
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
What is Body Fat Percentage (BFP)?
Your body fat percentage (BFP or BF%) is the percentage of your body fat in relation to your overall weight. If you weigh 200lbs and your body fat percentage is 30%, this means that your body fat weight (BFW) is 60lbs. The other 140lbs is your lean body mass (LBM).
Do The Math
Formula:
Total Weight X BFP = Fat Weight
Example:
200lbs X .30 = 60lbs
Lean body mass -- also known as fat-free mass (FFM) -- is everything else that your body is composed of (muscle, water, connective tissues, blood, skin, organs and so on).
Fat weight and lean body mass make up your body composition. So, body composition is defined as the makeup of the body in terms of the relative percentage of fat-free mass and body fat.
That's why it's important not to focus solely on the your weight. Your body composition is much more important because excess body fat can result in health problems.
See: 3 Reasons Why Being Overweight Can Harm Your Health
I've been a flabby 120lbs and a lean 135lbs. I'd much rather weigh 135lbs with a lower body fat percentage than 120lbs with a higher body fat percentage. You can be "skinny fat."
How Do I Lower My Body Fat Percentage?
If your body fat percentage is too high (see the chart at the bottom of the calculator), you lower it the normal way you lose weight: through moderate eating and being active/exercise.
See: How Do I Lose Weight?
A realistic drop in body fat would be about .5% to 1% per week. (That's a point 5%; not 5%.)
See: What is a Normal Body Fat Percentage?
Related Topics
What is the Ideal Body Fat to See Your Abs?
Surprising Facts about Ideal Body Weight
What is a Normal Body Fat Percentage?
Suzanne Hiscock is a PN L2 Certified Master Coach, ACE-certified Health Coach, as well as an ACE-certified Fitness Nutrition Specialist. For over 20 years, she's been helping people lose weight and get fit through her website, FitWatch.com.
And she’s really TRULY SORRY ABOUT THAT. You see, she didn’t realize she was contributing to diet culture; she just wanted to help people feel better. But losing weight isn’t the way to do it. She’s on a mission to change all that with an anti-diet approach. So, pardon the dust on the floor as the website gets revamped.