1. What is Body Fat Percentage?

Definition: Body fat percentage is the proportion of fat mass to total body weight, expressed as a percentage.

Purpose: It provides a more accurate measure of body composition than weight alone, helping assess health and fitness levels.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: The fat mass is divided by total weight to get the proportion, then multiplied by 100 to convert to percentage.

3. Importance of Body Fat Percentage

Details: Knowing your body fat percentage helps in:

• Assessing health risks associated with obesity
• Tracking fitness progress
• Setting realistic weight loss goals
• Understanding body composition changes

4. Using the Calculator

Tips:

• Enter fat mass and total weight in kilograms
• Fat mass cannot exceed total weight
• For accuracy, use measurements from body composition scales or calipers

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a healthy body fat percentage?
A: Varies by gender and age, but generally 14-24% for men and 21-31% for women is considered healthy.

Q2: How can I measure my fat mass?
A: Methods include skinfold calipers, bioelectrical impedance scales, DEXA scans, or hydrostatic weighing.

Q3: Why use kg instead of pounds?
A: The metric system is standard for scientific measurements. You can convert pounds to kg by dividing by 2.205.

Q4: How often should I check my body fat percentage?
A: Monthly measurements are sufficient to track meaningful changes.

Q5: Can body fat percentage be too low?
A: Yes, essential fat is 2-5% for men and 10-13% for women. Going below these levels can cause health problems.