How to Determine Lean Body Mass

Two components are involved in body composition: body fat mass and lean body mass. Body fat mass is the weight of all fat in the body, and lean body mass is the weight of everything else. Numerous techniques exist to calculate lean body mass, ranging from some methods that can be performed at home with simple tools to methods that require supervision and special equipment. One method uses different formulas for men and women and was developed by the YMCA.

Things You'll Need

• Bathroom scale or medical scale
• Tape measure
• Calculator (optional)

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Instructions

• 1

  Weigh yourself on a bathroom scale or medical scale. The scale should weigh in pounds, or convert your weight from the scale to pounds.

• 2

  Measure your waist circumference in inches. Stand up straight. Wrap a tape measure around your stomach at the navel to find the measurement.

• 3

  Multiply your waist circumference by 4.15.

• 4

  Multiply your weight by 0.082.

• 5

  Subtract the number that you obtained when you multiplied your weight by 0.082 from the number that you obtained when you multiplied your waist circumference by 4.15. This is your weight-waist circumference result.

• 6

  Calculate your mass of body fat. If you are a male, subtract 98.42 from your weight-waist circumference result.. If you are a female, subtract 76.76 from your weight-waist circumference result.

• 7

  Subtract your mass of body fat from your weight. The result is your lean body mass.