1. What is Body Fat Percentage?

Body fat percentage is the proportion of fat to total body weight. It's a more accurate indicator of fitness than body weight alone. The US Navy body fat formula is a widely used method to estimate body composition based on circumference measurements.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the US Navy body fat formula for women:

Where:

• \( waist \) — Waist circumference at narrowest point (cm)
• \( hip \) — Hip circumference at widest point (cm)
• \( neck \) — Neck circumference below larynx (cm)
• \( height \) — Height in centimeters

Explanation: The formula uses logarithmic transformations of the measurements to account for non-linear relationships between body dimensions and fat percentage.

3. Importance of Body Fat Measurement

Details: Knowing your body fat percentage helps assess health risks, track fitness progress, and set appropriate weight management goals. Women typically have higher essential fat requirements than men.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: For accurate results, measure circumferences with a flexible tape measure:

• Waist: Narrowest point between ribs and hips
• Hip: Widest point around buttocks
• Neck: Below the larynx with tape sloping slightly downward

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a healthy body fat percentage for women?
A: Essential fat is 10-13%, athletes 14-20%, fitness 21-24%, average 25-31%, and obese 32%+.

Q2: How accurate is this method?
A: The Navy method is reasonably accurate (±3%) for most people but may overestimate in very lean individuals.

Q3: When should measurements be taken?
A: Morning before eating is ideal. Avoid measuring immediately after exercise or when dehydrated.

Q4: Are there limitations to this method?
A: Less accurate for pregnant women, competitive bodybuilders, and those with unusual body shapes.

Q5: How often should I measure?
A: Every 4-8 weeks is sufficient to track changes. Daily measurements aren't recommended due to normal fluctuations.