Body Fat Calculator

Your body fat percentage is simply the percentage of fat your body contains. If you weigh 140 pounds and are 10% fat, it means that your body consists of 14 pounds fat and 126 pounds lean body mass (bone, muscle, organ tissue, blood, etc.).

A certain amount of fat is essential to bodily functions. Fat regulates body temperature, cushions and insulates organs and tissues and is the main form of the body's energy storage.

Knowing your body fat percentage can also help you determine if your weight loss goals are realistic. Remember, weight loss doesn't always mean fat loss.

The following body fat calculator uses the U.S. Navy Circumference Method where three or four body measurements are fed into a fixed formula to estimate the percentage of your body that is made up of fat. The measurements need to be accurate to within 0.5 cm or 0.25 inches and should be taken as follows:

• Height: taken without shoes
• Neck: taken below the larynx sloping slightly downward at the front
• Waist: for men at navel height, for women at the smallest point
• Hips: (women only) at the largest point