84-11, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA, [4] Hodgdon J.A., Beckett M.B. The amount of essential fat differs between men and women, and is typically around 2-5% in men, and 10-13% in women. Even though using an online tool like ours is a decent method to estimate your body fat percentage, it is not the most accurate. BMI A number doctors use to help judge your risk of illness. Sign In. Another method relies on air displacement, instead of water displacement: air displacement plethysmography. As previously mentioned, fat produces a number of essential hormones that affect a person's body. Our macronutrient calculator can be of assistance, but with regards to fats it should be noted that the same amount (mass) of food rich in fats is about 2 times more caloric than equivalent amounts of carbs or proteins. Cookie Policy None of them can be described as "the best method to measure body fat" - all have advantages and drawbacks [5]. Note that being overweight does not necessarily indicate an excess of body fat. CT can handle very obese patients, but is inappropriate for whole-body scans due to the radiation levels involved. The Body Fat Percentage Calculator uses the U.S. Navy fitness formula to calculate an estimation of body fat. Accuracy to the nearest half inch or within 1 cm should be sufficient. Need some help getting your metabolism up and running? Our calorie calculator will help with that. Quickly find out your BMI, waist to hip ratio, body frame size, ideal weight, body fat, RMR, calories burned, target heart rate, and maximum heart rate. The method is quite accurate, but has its limitations, most notably its reliance on the subject's performance. As Katch et al. For more accurate measurements of body fat, the use of instruments such as bioelectric impedance analysis or hydrostatic density testing is necessary. These are two other direct methods. Use the "Metric Units" tab if you are more comfortable with the International System of Units (SI). Note that both women and men store body fat differently and that this can change over time. The calculator above uses a method involving equations developed at the Naval Health Research Center by Hodgdon and Beckett in 1984. The results can be roughly interpreted following the guidelines presented in the table below. Mathematical algorithms then separate the body tissues using physical and biological models. Shop: This is the only indirect method other than the one using body measurements and weight such as in our body fat calculator. Note: These calculations are based on averages. The body fat index is not an indicator of fitness level since the calculation is made with no regard to height or weight. Are you sure you want to delete this family member? Obesity is associated with a reduction in quality of life, poorer mental health outcomes, obstructive sleep apnea, as well as multiple leading causes of death worldwide such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, certain cancers and diabetes.2 All of these potential complications have the ability to reduce a person's life expectancy, and as such, obesity is a medical condition that is studied by many researchers. It also shows your body fat category, as well as the ideal percentage of fat for your age range. Although the water displacement test is the most accurate way to determine body fat percent, however the Navy Body Fat test or YMCA formula is sufficiently accurate within 1-3% for most people. The Body Fat Calculator can be used to estimate your total body fat based on specific measurements. Excess body fat leads to the condition of being overweight and eventually to obesity given that insufficient measures are taken to curb increasing body fat. The measurements consists of placing electrodes on precisely defined parts of the body, running a small electrical current through them and measuring the resistance between the different points. Body fat percentage (BFP) formula for adult males: Body fat percentage (BFP) formula for adult females: Body fat percentage (BFP) formula for boys: Body fat percentage (BFP) formula for girls: Measure the circumference of the subject's waist at a horizontal level around the navel for men, and at the level with the smallest width for women. How to calculate body fat using the U.S. Navy Method This free calculator computes body fat percentage based on methods published in the U.S. Army's Standards of Medical Fitness. Related: BMI Calculator | Body Fat Calculator | Ideal Weight Calculator This Calorie Calculator is based on several equations, and the results of the calculator are based on an estimated average. Of the 100 most populated U.S. cities, these 10 zip codes have the highest percentage of overweight residents. It is essentially a formula that can be used to calculate an estimate of your body fat based on simple body measurements. The technique is quite advanced, involving exposure to a neutron field and measuring of gamma input as the cell nucleus relaxes to its pre-exposed state. However, managing diet and exercise has been shown to reduce stored fat. Measure the circumference of the subject's neck starting below the larynx, with the tape sloping downward to the front. [1] Katch V.L., McArdle W.D., Katch F.I (2011) "Essentials of Exercise Physiology", fourth edition, [2] Hodgdon J.A. For women, SI metrics (centimeters), the formula is [4]: 100 x ((4.95 / (1.29579 - 0.35004 * log10(waist + hip - neck) + 0.22100 * log10(height))) - 4.5). insights, ACTIVE Works® is the race management For men, SI metrics (centimeters), the formula is [3]: 100 x ((4.95 / (1.0324 - 0.19077 * log10(waist - neck) + 0.15456 * log10(height))) - 4.5). Two equations are provided, one using the U.S. customary system (USC) which uses inches, and the other using the International System of Units, specifically the unit of centimeters: Body fat percentage (BFP) formula for males: Body fat percentage (BFP) formula for females: Note that results of these calculations are only an estimate since they are based on many different assumptions to make them as applicable to as many people as possible. The Harris-Benedict Equation was one of the earliest equations used to calculate basal metabolic rate (BMR), which is the amount of energy expended per day at rest. If you ever wondered what is your body fat percentage, this is … Use this body fat percentage calculator to estimate the percentage of body fat based on population averages. Privacy Settings Disease and other conditions, associated with obesity further affect the accuracy of the measurement. Essential body fat is a base level of fat that is found in most parts of the body. It also shows your body fat category, as well as the ideal percentage of fat for your age range. This calculator combines the output from several individual calculators to give you a full body analysis. (1990) "Body Composition In The Military Services: Standards And Methods", Body Composition and Physical Performance, National Academies Press (US), [3] Hodgdon J.A., Beckett M.B. Children or very obese people might have trouble fully submerging under water and holding their breath. We are not to be held responsible for any resulting damages from proper or improper use of the service. It works since fat conducts electricity differently than bones and muscle tissue - it has different impedance.