How to Calculate Body Fat Level

If you need to lose weight for health reasons, measuring your body mass index (BMI) can indicate your current body fat level. Your BMI determines whether you are underweight, overweight or obese. If you want to measure your body fat level for health reasons, BMI evaluates your weight but does not diagnose illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Although obesity is often premonitory for heart attacks, a full screening by your doctor is the only way to determine your overall health.

Things You'll Need

• Calculator

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Instructions

• 1

  Multiply your height (in inches) by itself, using your calculator. For example, if you are 73 inches tall, multiply 73 by 73 to get 5,329.

• 2

  Divide your weight (in pounds) by your squared height. If your squared height is 5,329, and you weigh 203 lbs., divide 203 by 5,329 to get .0381.

• 3

  Multiply your quotient (result of division) by 703. The result is your BMI. Multiplying a quotient of .0381 by 703 results in a BMI of 26.8.

• 4

  Compare your BMI to the Centers for Disease Control's standards. Below 18.5 indicates an underweight body mass; 18.5 to 24.9 indicates a normal body mass; 25.0 to 29.9 indicates an overweight body mass; and over 30.0 indicates an obese body mass. A BMI of 26.8 indicates barely overweight.