BMI Vs Body Fat Percentage - What’s the Difference?

Posted on: Feb 2, 2022 | | Written by:

BMI Vs Body Fat Percentage - What’s the Difference?

Published on February 1, 2022. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

BMI VS. Body Fat Percentage - Health insurance

Weighing yourself and keeping track of body measurements is key when you are trying to lose or manage your weight. There are two ways in which body fat can be measured. They are body fat percentage and body mass index commonly known as BMI. These numbers can also reveal a lot a about your health. To know more about them and how they are different, read on.

What is body fat percentage?

Body fat percentage or BF% is obtained by dividing total fat by body weight. It can help to determine the amount of fat in your body. For example, if you weigh 100 kg and have a BF% of 20% then it can be concluded that the total fat in your body is 20 kg and the remaining 80 kg is made up of muscles, organs, bones and other tissues. This figure can, therefore, vary depending on the loss or gain of muscle or fat. The body fat percentage for men and women is different and less for men when compared to women. To measure this value using the skinfold method, also known as the pinch test, in men, the thigh, chest and abdomen are measured with a calliper. For women, the hip, triceps and thighs are measured. Normal body fat percentage for women is 25-31%, whereas for men, the normal range is 18-25%.

What is BMI?

Body mass index or BMI is your weight to height ratio. It is most often used to determine if you are of normal weight, overweight or obese. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), you would be of normal weight if your BMI is less than 25kg/m². You would be overweight if you have a BMI of 25-29kg/m². You would be considered obese if you have a BMI equal to or more than 30kg/m². This measurement is also used as an indicator of your overall health and if you are at a risk of developing certain conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and other serious conditions. Also, it should be noted that as the body frame size varies, this value also differs from one person to another.

Difference between body fat percentage and BMI

Apart from the way these values are calculated, how these measurements are used also differ. For example, BMI is commonly used to determine if you are of normal weight, overweight or obese.On the other hand, body fat percentage is used to know about the amount of fat in your body.

BMI is an inexpensive method and the easiest way to determine your overall fitness and if you are at risk of developing any major health issues. All you need to do to calculate BMI is to divide your weight in kilograms by your height in metres. If you know your height and weight, you can easily get your BMI through any of the free BMI calculators available online.

To calculate body fat percentage,quite a few complicated methods can be used. These include 3D body scanners, hydrostatic weighing, air displacement plethysmography (Bod Pod) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

(DXA). Therefore, calculating body fat percentage can be expensive.

As mentioned before, body fat percentage is affected by gender, however, gender does not have an impact on BMI. Some experts are also of the opinion that BMI is not very accurate for people of certain ethnicities. Also, if you are very fit, then a BMI score might not be an accurate reflection of your health as your weight could be high due to the weight of your muscle. For example, if you are an athlete, such as a body builder or footballer,you might have a high BMI, which could fall in the overweight or obese category, even if you are active or lean. In this case, a body fat percentage calculation would be more accurate in determining your overall health.

Conclusion

Both BMI and body fat percentage can be used to monitor the effectiveness of weight loss programs and diets. However, eating a healthy diet and ensuring that you get enough physical activity are also important for managing weight effectively. Also, if you have just started exercising over the past 3-6 months, then you could use a BMI calculator to track your progress. As you get fitter and leaner, you should move to the body fat percentage value. If you have further questions, talking to your doctor or a healthcare professional should help you understand these values better.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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