The American Body Composition Calculator for Individuals

The American Body Composition Calculator (ABCC) uses information about your height, weight and other body measurements along with age, race and sex to determine how much of your body is fat. Below you can provide as few as 5 or as many as 14 factors. Generally, the more information you provide, the more accurate the calculated results will be.

For individuals interested in obtaining the highest degree of accuracy, proper body measurement techniques are detailed in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey's Anthropometry And Physical Activity Monitor Procedures Manual.

Percent body fat can be calculated for large research samples by accessing the American Body Composition Calculator for Researchers on the ABCC homepage.

Note: The body composition calculator is not accurate for individuals who are less than 8 years of age, are less than 3’6” or more than 6’5” tall, weigh less than 42 or more than 300 pounds, are pregnant, have had sex reassignment hormone therapy, or have had an amputation other than fingers or toes.

Step 1: Select Your Preferred Measurement System.

Step 2: Enter Your Information for the Required Fields Below.

Please select aSex value from the provided options.

Sex is a required field.

Please select aEthnicity value from the provided options.

Ethnicity is a required field.

{{ main_ctrl.params_data.age.nicename}} range is from{{ main_ctrl.getFormattedLower('age')}} to{{ main_ctrl.getFormattedUpper('age')}}.

{{ main_ctrl.params_data.age.nicename}} is a required field.

{{ main_ctrl.params_data.height.nicename}} range is from{{ main_ctrl.getFormattedLower('height')}} to{{ main_ctrl.getFormattedUpper('height')}}.

{{ main_ctrl.params_data.height.nicename}} is a required field.

{{ main_ctrl.params_data.weight.nicename}} range is from{{ main_ctrl.getFormattedLower('weight')}} to{{ main_ctrl.getFormattedUpper('weight')}}.

{{ main_ctrl.params_data.weight.nicename}} is a required field.

Step 3: Enter Additional Measurements for Improved Accuracy.

{{ main_ctrl.params_data.waist.nicename}} range is from{{ main_ctrl.getFormattedLower('waist')}} to{{ main_ctrl.getFormattedUpper('waist')}}.

{{ main_ctrl.params_data.waist.nicename}} is a required field.

{{ main_ctrl.params_data.arm.nicename}} range is from{{ main_ctrl.getFormattedLower('arm')}} to{{ main_ctrl.getFormattedUpper('arm')}}.

{{ main_ctrl.params_data.arm.nicename}} is a required field.

{{ main_ctrl.params_data.thigh.nicename}} range is from{{ main_ctrl.getFormattedLower('thigh')}} to{{ main_ctrl.getFormattedUpper('thigh')}}.

{{ main_ctrl.params_data.thigh.nicename}} is a required field.

{{ main_ctrl.params_data.calf.nicename}} range is from{{ main_ctrl.getFormattedLower('calf')}} to{{ main_ctrl.getFormattedUpper('calf')}}.

{{ main_ctrl.params_data.calf.nicename}} is a required field.

{{ main_ctrl.params_data.armlength.nicename}} range is from{{ main_ctrl.getFormattedLower('armlength')}} to{{ main_ctrl.getFormattedUpper('armlength')}}.

{{ main_ctrl.params_data.armlength.nicename}} is a required field.

{{ main_ctrl.params_data.leglength.nicename}} range is from{{ main_ctrl.getFormattedLower('leglength')}} to{{ main_ctrl.getFormattedUpper('leglength')}}.

{{ main_ctrl.params_data.leglength.nicename}} is a required field.

{{ main_ctrl.params_data.tricep.nicename}} range is from{{ main_ctrl.getFormattedLower('tricep')}} to{{ main_ctrl.getFormattedUpper('tricep')}}.

{{ main_ctrl.params_data.tricep.nicename}} is a required field.

{{ main_ctrl.params_data.subscapular.nicename}} range is from{{ main_ctrl.getFormattedLower('subscapular')}} to{{ main_ctrl.getFormattedUpper('subscapular')}}.

{{ main_ctrl.params_data.subscapular.nicename}} is a required field.

Please select aHave you begun having periods? value from the provided options.

Have you begun having periods? is a required field.

{{ main_ctrl.errors.all}}

Please check your input for one or more errors or omissions.

Your calculated body composition is {{ main_ctrl.results.calc}}%

*The "healthy range" of percent body fat for adults is based on:
Heo, M., Faith, M.S., Pietrobelli, A., & Heymsfield, S.B. (2012). Percentage of body fat cutoffs by sex, age, and race-ethnicity in the US adult population from NHANES 1999-2004. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 95, 594-602.

*The "healthy range" of percent body fat for children is based on:
Taylor, R.W., Jones, I.E., Williams, S.M., Goulding, A. (2002). Body fat percentages measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry corresponding to recently recommended body mass index cutoffs for overweight and obesity in children and adolescents aged 3-18 y. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 76, 1416-21.