This term refers to a tool used to estimate the proportion of fat in an individual’s body composition. This calculation is often performed using various inputs such as height, weight, age, gender, and sometimes skinfold measurements or body circumference data. For example, an online tool might require entering one’s waist circumference and neck circumference to produce an estimated body fat percentage.
Understanding one’s body fat percentage is valuable for assessing overall health, monitoring fitness progress, and identifying potential health risks associated with excessive or insufficient fat. Historically, determining body composition required complex laboratory methods. The availability of readily accessible estimation tools has made this information more widely available, allowing individuals to track their health metrics more easily and conveniently.