How to Calculate Body Fat Percentage for a Woman

Calculating your body fat percentage, also known as your body mass index, can be done using a standard formula if you're a woman. The most accurate way to measure your body fat percentage, however, is underwater weighing. But a basic formula will give you an idea of your fat percentage once you take several measurements.

Weigh yourself on the scale. Take your body weight in pounds and multiply it by 0.732. Now take your answer and add 8.987 to it. Record your answer on paper.

How to Measure Muscle & Bone Mass

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Measure your wrist at the fullest part. Take the measurement in inches and divide it by 3.14. Write it down.

Measure your waist at your naval. Multiply this measurement by 0.157. Record this measurement

How to Calculate Body Fat Into Pounds

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Measure your hips at the fullest point. Multiply this measurement by 0.249. Record the result.

Measure your forearm at the fullest point. Take the measurement and multiply it by 0.434. Jot down the product.

Calculate your lean body mass. To do this, add together answers you recorded in Steps 1 and 2. Take this new answer and subtract the result from Step 3. Take that number and subtract the result from Step 4. Take that answer and add the result from Step 5. This result is your lean body mass.

Calculate your body fat weight. Take your body weight (weight on the scale) and subtract your lean body mass (the answer from Step 6).

Take the result from Step 7 and multiply it by 100. Take this answer and divide it by your total body weight (weight on the scale). This is your body fat percentage.

Tips

Athletes will have a body fat percentage of 14 percent to 20 percent.

Women who are physically fit will have a body fat percentage of 21 percent to 24 percent.

A healthy amount of body fat is 25 percent to 31 percent.

A body fat percentage above 31 percent is considered obese.