Body Fat Calculator for adults gives an estimation of the body fat percentage value based on the human height, weight and age, and can be applied to men and women between the ages of 20 and 80 years. To calculate the body fat percentage choose appropriate measurement units and specify the height, weight and age either using the sliders or inserting the data in the calculator fields, then specify the gender.
How to know your body fat percentage
The body fat percentage of a human is the total mass of fat divided by the total body mass and multiplied by 100.
Body fat consists of both storage body fat and essential body fat. There are a number of ways to calculate the body fat percentage. Among them are: bio-electrical impedance analysis, skin-fold methods and other anthropometric methods involving the measurement of various body parts. One of the simplest methods we use in our Body Fat Calculator is based on the BMI value plus age and gender of a person. It is important to stress out here that all these methods are just estimations and cannot substitute a thorough clinical investigation.
Body fat percentage formula
According to a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition in 1991, the body fat percentage for adults can be estimated using gender-based formulas in conjunction with BMI as accurately as with skin-fold measurements and bioelectrical impedance tests.
In a study, published in the International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders in 2002, were compared four BMI-based formulas for estimation of body fat percentage. As a result of the comparison the researches came up with a more accurate body fat percentage formula. According to this formula, used in our body fat calculator, adult body fat percentage can be expressed as:
Body Fat Percentage = 1.39 x BMI + 0.16 x Age – 9.00, for women,
Body Fat Percentage = 1.39 x BMI + 0.16 x Age – 19.34, for men.
These formulas slightly overestimate body fat percentage in obese people.
Mayo Clinic specialists, as well as many health professionals from other institutions, list the following age-adjusted recommendations for body fat percentiles:
Women:
20-40 yrs old: Underfat: < 21 %, Healthy: 21-33 %, Overfat: 33-39 %, Obese: > 39 %
41-60 yrs old: Underfat: < 23 %, Healthy: 23-35 %, Overfat: 35-40 %, Obese: > 40 %
61-79 yrs old: Underfat: < 24 %, Healthy: 24-36 %, Overfat: 36-42 %, Obese: > 42 %
Men:
20-40 yrs old: Underfat: < 8 %, Healthy: 8-19 %, Overfat: 19-25 %, Obese: > 25 %
41-60 yrs old: Underfat: < 11 %, Healthy: 11-22 %, Overfat: 22-27 %, Obese: > 27 %
61-79 yrs old: Underfat: < 13 %, Healthy: 13-25 %, Overfat: 25-30 %, Obese: > 30 %
Related calculators
Check out our other health calculators such as BMI Calculator or BSA Calculator.
Disclaimer. Please remember that this calculator is only one of many ways to assess your body fat percentage. In case of any concerns about your weight, please consult your physician to address your specific situation.