How to Calculate Body Fat Composition
The body has two distinguishing features when it comes to its composition: body fat and lean body mass. Body fat is the amount of subcutaneous fat that is present under the skin. Lean body mass is all of the other material present in the body that does not include fat. This would be the skin, bones, muscles, organs, cartilage, tendons, ligaments and any fluids that are flowing through the body. In order to calculate your body fat, you need a couple tools and a series of steps to follow.
Instructions
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Get a body fat analyzer. This is a hand-held, battery-operated device with a digital readout screen that has two galvanized handles. It is used to determine your body fat percentage (see References).
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Step right up. After you get up in the morning, step on to the scale and get your weight. It is best to do this with little or no clothes and after you have used the bathroom. This will give you the most accurate reading.
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Input your information. When you turn on the analyzer, a series of questions will appear. It will ask you your height, weight, age, frequency of exercise and gender. Input all of this information.
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Start it up. After you have put all your information in, press the "start" button, extend your arms straight out in front of you and hold the galvanized handles with your thumbs drooped over the top. It will then take about 7 seconds for a painless electrical signal to travel through your body. This will determine the amount of body fat you have. The number will then appear on the screen.
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Figure out your fat mass. After you have determined your body fat percentage, you can take it one step further and actually find out how much fat mass you have. To do this, multiply your body fat percentage by your weight. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds and you are 10% body fat, then your fat mass is 20 pounds.
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Tips & Warnings
If you progressively check your body fat, always do it the same time of day. Also, be aware that there are many factors that can alter your body fat reading, such as timing between the consumption of foods and beverages.
