1. What is Body Fat Percentage?

Body fat percentage is the proportion of fat in your body compared to your total body weight. It's a better indicator of health than BMI alone, as it distinguishes between fat mass and lean mass.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the following formulas:

Where:

• \( BMI \) — Body Mass Index (kg/m²)
• \( Age \) — Age in years
• Different constants are used for men and women

Explanation: This formula estimates body fat percentage based on BMI and age, with gender-specific adjustments.

3. Importance of Body Fat Percentage

Details: Knowing your body fat percentage helps assess health risks associated with obesity more accurately than BMI alone. It's useful for tracking fitness progress and setting appropriate health goals.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your BMI (calculate it first if needed), age in years, and select your gender. All values must be valid (BMI > 0, age between 1-120).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How accurate is this calculation?
A: This provides a reasonable estimate but may not be as accurate as methods like DEXA scans or skinfold measurements.

Q2: What are healthy body fat percentage ranges?
A: For men: 6-24% (athletes 6-13%, fitness 14-17%, average 18-24%). For women: 16-30% (athletes 14-20%, fitness 21-24%, average 25-30%).

Q3: Why does age affect body fat percentage?
A: As we age, we tend to lose muscle mass and gain fat, even if weight stays the same.

Q4: Should athletes use this formula?
A: This formula may underestimate body fat in very muscular individuals. More specialized methods are recommended for athletes.

Q5: How often should I measure my body fat percentage?
A: For tracking changes, every 4-8 weeks is sufficient as meaningful changes take time.