Great Body Fat Index Calculator: Is 28% Body Fat Good?

We know more often the Body Mass Index, or BMI, which allows us to evaluate our corpulence. But there is also the Body Fat Index ( BFI ) or Fat Mass Index ( FMI ). A less known measure that allows you to evaluate the proportion of fat in your body.

Enter your height, your weight, and your age, and your gender, we will then be able to calculate your body fat index and you can get an immediate interpretation below. Attention this test is not the BMI test.

WHY THE Body Fat Index?

The body fat index allows you to estimate the proportion between your fat mass and your muscle mass. The BFI is intended for people between 15 and 50 years old unless you are an athlete (your muscle mass is more developed) and pregnant women. Children and elderly people are not concerned by the FMI, because of their age.

Knowing your body fat index is useful to realize the proportion of fat in your body. Indeed, an excess of fat can have more or less serious consequences on health, which can go from breathlessness to cholesterol, and even provoke risks of stroke (Cardiovascular Accidents). Regular monitoring thanks to this index is thus very indicated to supervise its fat mass and to avoid health problems.

What is a good body fat index?

Let’s put the fat mass index into context with some normative values to give you a better idea.

For men and women aged 18 to 98, percentile values for the fat mass index were found in a Sweden research of 3540 people.

I used the data from the 25th and 75th percentiles for this post since it casts a wide enough net to determine where most people gravitate.

Is BMI and Body Fat Percentage the Same Thing?

The body mass index (BMI) is a metric that determines whether or not you are at a healthy weight. Using an online calculator to calculate your BMI is simple.

However, keep in mind that your BMI is simply a ratio of your height to weight.

It doesn’t tell you how much fat you have on your body. “If it’s high, you could have a lot of body fat or be muscular.”

Rather than relying solely on BMI as a health indicator, it’s important to evaluate it in conjunction with other factors such as your body composition, family medical history, current food and exercise habits, and lifestyle.

What should my body fat be for my age?

Age	Healthy Body Fat % Women	Healthy Body Fat % Men
20 – 39	21% – 32%	8% – 19%
40 – 59	23% – 33%	11% – 21%
60 – 79	24% – 35%	13% – 24%

So, what is the ideal body fat percentage? According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the following information is depending on your gender and age:

 As you can see, women’s body fat to lean tissue proportion is naturally higher than men’s, and body fat normally rises with age.

Tips to reduce your body fat percentage 

To lose weight, you must consume fewer calories than you burn. You will decrease body fat if you do this in addition to exercising. Your body was created to accumulate fat to have energy reserves during a famine. Your body burns fat stores when you consume fewer calories than you spend during activity and rest. However, if you eat too few calories or eliminate all carbohydrates, you’ll likely lose fluids and muscle rather than fat.

In this situation, your weight will drop, but your body fat percentage will rise, making you unhealthy. To maximize fat reduction and decrease muscle loss, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests decreasing weight steadily (12 to 1 pound per week) while continuing to exercise.