Body Fat Calculator for Men and Women

By Disabled World - Jul 28, 2009 7:56:21 PM

Information regarding calculating body fat for males and females includes body fat calculator and formula. The body fat calculator calculates the percentage of fat your body contains. Three or four separate body measurements are entered into the body fat calculator in order to estimate the percentage of your body comprised of fat.

The body fat calculator calculates the percentage of fat your body contains. For example: If you weigh 220 pounds and the calculator reads you have 10% fat, then your body consists of approx. 22 pounds of fat and 198 pounds of body mass. The percentage of body fat for women is greater than that for men.

A person's total body fat percentage is the weight of the person's fat divided by the person's weight, which reflects both essential and storage fat.

What is Essential Fat?

Essential fat is that amount of fat necessary for maintenance of life and reproductive functions. Essential fat is 2–5% in men, and 10–13% in women. A certain percentage of body fat is essential to human functions such as: insulating internal organs and tissues, regulating body temperature, and as energy storage.

What is Storage Fat?

Storage fat consists of fat accumulation in adipose tissue, whose main role is to store energy in the form of fat, part of which protects internal organs in the chest and abdomen.

Our body fat calculator uses the standard U.S. Navy Circumference Measurement, this is where three or four seperate body measurements are entered into the body fat calculator in order to estimate the percentage of your body comprised of fat.

Calculate your Body Fat Percentage

Note: The accuracy of skinfold bodyfat testing depends on the accuracy of the measurements. Measuring calipers are recommended. Your entered measurements should be accurate to within 0.5cm (0.25 inches) and measured as follows:

a) Height Measurement: Should be measured without shoes
b) Neck Measurement: Should be taken below the larynx sloping slightly downward at the front
c) Waist Measurement:
i) Measurements for men should be at navel height
ii) Measurements for women should be at the smallest point
d) Hip Measurement: (women only) should be at the largest point

The American Council on Exercise has categorized ranges of body fat percentages as follows:

What the body fat calculator numbers mean:

Classification	Females (% fat)	Males (% fat)
Essential Fat	10-12%	2-4%
Athletes	14-20%	6-13%
Fitness	21-24%	14-17%
Acceptable	25-31%	18-25%
Obese	32%+	25%+

Printable body fat percentage chart (right click - select print)

Body fat pecentage chart

Note: The essential fat values in the charts above are lower than the recommended minimum body fat percentage levels. As we mentioned above, a small amount of storage fat is always required to be available as fuel for the human body in time of need.

The body fat calculator formula is derived from the following calculation:

Calculating Body Fat - Formula For Males:

1: (Total body weight x 1.082) + 94.42
2: Waist measurement x 4.15
Lean Body Mass: Factor 1 - Factor 2
Body Fat Weight: Total bodyweight - Lean Body Mass
Body Fat Percentage: (Body Fat Weight x 100) / total bodyweight

Calculating Body Fat - Formula For Females:

1: (Total body weight x 0.732) + 8.987
2: Wrist measurement (at fullest point) / 3.140
3: Waist measurement (at naval) x 0.157
4: Hip measurement (at fullest point) x 0.249
5: Forearm measurement (at fullest point) x 0.434
Lean Body Mass: Factor 1 + Factor 2 - Factor 3 - Factor 4 + Factor 5
Body Fat Weight: Total bodyweight - Lean Body Mass
Body Fat Percentage: (Body Fat Weight x 100) / total bodyweight.

Note: Calculators and tools supplied by Disabled-World.com do not provide medical advice and do not replace advice of medical professionals. No guarantee is made that the calculations and/or results are accurate.

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