How to Calculate Body Fat at Home

Excess body fat can contribute to health problems and diseases such as diabetes. Also, fat does not burn as many calories as muscle, so increasing issues arise if your body has too high a percentage of body fat and is not burning calories efficiently.

Things You'll Need

• Body-fat scale Tape measure Calculator Skinfold calipers

Instructions

1. Weigh yourself on a reliable scale. Write down the results.

2. Measure your height, waist and hips with a tape measure. Write down the results.

3. Use a reliable online body-fat calculator, for which you will use the measurements you took with the tape measure. Select an online calculator from a verifiable source, such as an established weight-loss center (see Resources).

4. An alternative method of measuring body fat is to use a skinfold caliper. With the caliper, grip your waist, thigh, and triceps, and measure the excess fat. Using the owners manual included with the calipers to add the measurements and calculate your body fat.

5. Another method is to purchase a home scale that comes equipped with a feature that measures body fat as well as weight.

Tips & Warnings

• Body-fat measurements are different for men and for women. Consult a chart that lists appropriate body-fat percentages for each sex.

• Consult with your doctor before beginning a diet plan to try to eliminate excess body fat.

Resources

• Calculate your body mass index
• Body-fat calculator