Body Fat Percentage Calculator
Body Fat Percentage is the proportion of a person’s total body weight that is composed of fat. It is an important indicator of physical health because it shows how much fat is in your body relative to lean mass (muscles, bones, water, etc.).
Unlike weight alone, which can be misleading (since it doesn’t differentiate between muscle, fat, and bone), body fat percentage provides a more accurate assessment of your fitness and health.
Categories of Body Fat Percentage:
For Men:
- Essential Fat: 2-5% (This is the minimal fat necessary for basic physical functions.)
- Athletes: 6-13% (Bodybuilders, runners, and other athletes tend to have low body fat percentages.)
- Fitness: 14-17% (A healthy level of body fat for most men.)
- Average: 18-24% (Normal body fat range for the general population.)
- Obese: 25% and higher (Excessive body fat, associated with higher health risks.)
For Women:
- Essential Fat: 10-13% (Women require more essential fat for reproductive health.)
- Athletes: 14-20% (Female athletes often have low body fat for performance purposes.)
- Fitness: 21-24% (A healthy range for most women.)
- Average: 25-31% (Normal for the average population.)
- Obese: 32% and higher (High body fat, linked to greater health risks.)