1. What is Body Fat Percentage?

Body fat percentage is the proportion of fat in your body compared to your total body mass. It's a more accurate indicator of fitness than body weight alone, as it distinguishes between fat mass and lean body mass.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the body fat percentage formula:

Where:

• Fat Mass — Weight of fat in the body (kg)
• Body Mass — Total weight of the body (kg)

Explanation: The formula calculates what percentage of your total body weight consists of fat tissue.

3. Importance of Body Fat Measurement

Details: Knowing your body fat percentage helps assess health risks, track fitness progress, and determine appropriate weight loss or muscle gain goals. Healthy ranges vary by age and gender.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter fat mass and body mass in kilograms. Both values must be positive numbers, and fat mass cannot exceed body mass.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are healthy body fat percentage ranges?
A: For men: 6-24%, for women: 16-30% (varies by age). Athletes typically have lower percentages.

Q2: How is fat mass measured?
A: Methods include skinfold calipers, bioelectrical impedance scales, DEXA scans, or hydrostatic weighing.

Q3: Why not just use BMI?
A: BMI doesn't distinguish between fat and muscle. A muscular person may have high BMI but low body fat.

Q4: How often should I measure body fat?
A: Every 4-8 weeks is sufficient, as body fat changes slowly. Daily measurements may show water fluctuations.

Q5: Can I use pounds instead of kilograms?
A: The calculator uses kg, but you can convert pounds to kg by dividing by 2.205.