A body fat percentage calculator formula is a tool used to determine the amount of body fat a person has, typically expressed as a percentage of total body weight. For instance, a person weighing 150 pounds with 25 pounds of body fat would have a body fat percentage of approximately 16.67%.
Knowing one’s body fat percentage is crucial for assessing overall health risks, as higher levels of body fat can increase the likelihood of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Historically, body fat percentage was measured using calipers to estimate skinfold thickness, but today, more accurate methods like bioelectrical impedance analysis are widely employed.