1. What is Body Fat Percentage?

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

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the basic body fat percentage formula:

Where:

• \( Fat\_mass \) — The weight of fat in your body (kg)
• \( Total\_mass \) — Your total body weight (kg)

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

3. Importance of Body Fat Percentage

Details: Knowing your body fat percentage helps assess health risks, track fitness progress, and set appropriate weight management goals. Different body fat ranges are associated with different health outcomes.

4. Using the Calculator

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

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a healthy body fat percentage?
A: For men, 6-24% is generally healthy; for women, 16-30%. Athletes typically have lower percentages.

Q2: How is fat mass measured?
A: Methods include skinfold calipers, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), DEXA scans, hydrostatic weighing, and Bod Pod.

Q3: Why use body fat percentage instead of BMI?
A: BMI doesn't distinguish between fat and muscle, while body fat percentage directly measures fat content.

Q4: How often should I measure body fat percentage?
A: Every 4-8 weeks is sufficient to track changes, as body fat changes slowly with diet and exercise.

Q5: Can this calculator be used for children?
A: Body fat percentage standards are different for children, and specialized pediatric formulas should be used.