Body fat percentage tells you how much of your body is fat versus lean mass (muscle, bone, organs, water). It's a more meaningful fitness and health measure than weight or BMI because it reflects composition. Healthy ranges differ by sex — women carry more essential fat. Common estimation methods include the US Navy tape measurement, skinfold calipers, bioimpedance scales, and the gold-standard DEXA scan.
Key points
- Proportion of bodyweight that is fat
- More meaningful than weight or BMI
- Healthy ranges differ by sex
- Measured by tape, calipers, scales or DEXA