The body fat calculator can be used to estimate your total body fat based on specific measurements. Some may find that they typically store fat in their mid section while others may put weight on in their thighs legs or arms first. How to take measurements. This body shape typically presented as the ideal describes a person with hip and bust measurements nearly equal in size with a narrower waist measurement. Less than 19 you are erring on the thin side. You can use the measurements you took for the body fat calculator.
Just over 20 were pear shaped. Measure at the fullest point of your bust with a soft measuring tapemake sure that the tape is not too tight by breathing in and out. Just under 14 were apple shaped. The chart below shows the average body fat percentages of americans from samples between 19992004. A study of more than 6000 women conducted at north carolina state university in 2005 revealed that 46 of women were banana shaped. For example an ounce of lost fat replaced with an ounce of new muscle will keep the body at the same weight although now there is less fat.
This data means that if your body fat percentage is lower than 31 for women and 24 for men you are in the average range and you have nothing to worry about. Higher levels of body fat may be dangerous for you. And only 8 were hourglass shaped. Body mass indicators are a general simplified way of determining wether you are over or under weight. A basic way to measure body fat percentage is by using a soft tape measure like the kind youd use for sewing to record measurements of different parts of the body. Remember though its not medical advice.
But it is possible to lose fat and stay the same weight provided you are replacing that fat with something else. Then logically a loss of fat leads to a loss of weight. Our body shape calculator needs four measurements to accurately determine your body type. And in many cases body fat isnt evenly distributed. In general a body mass index of around 20 22 is the perfect score area. Then input your gender and measurements below to receive a body fat index based on average values.
If youre wondering whether or not youre fat and the mirror and scale arent really telling you take this quiz and see where youre at and what it might mean. Use a tape measure to determine your waist wrist hip and forearm circumference. Determine your body fat percentage with our body fat calculator. To get the best results measure to the nearest 14 inch 05 cm. Use the metric units tab if you are more comfortable with the international system of units si.