Proba - FATS

Proba - FATS ... is a scale for measuring adult body fat with some helpful suggestions.

Estimating body fat using only a tape measure and a weight scale.

In the past the Body Mass index (BMI) was used to calculate adult body fat. It estimated body fat by dividing the adult body weight by the height squared (BMI=W/H x H)). But the CDC, who uses the BMI, admits on their webpage that it fails to adequately address the variability in the densities human bodies. This new Body FAT Index (BFATI) method does identify the differences between the types by factoring in the waist (Girth) measurement and the buttocks measurement. BFATI equals weight, times waist plus buttocks, divided by height cubed. (BFATI = W x 503[metric conversion] (G + B) / H x H x H).The resulting numbers are similar for normally trim body types for both measures across the entire range but BFATI is better for the higher and lower fat percentages of the various body types. The BFATI discriminates the fat better and therefore gives the user a more useful estimate of problems and responses to the problems that are likely to be encountered. The math is based on height in meters and weight in kilograms but this has been converted for American users of feet and pounds.

In this illustration the calculated BMI of the two body types is the same at 27.5 and so it tells you only that these bodies are overweight. However, the BFATI score of the athlete with a 33 waist and 36 buttocks is 25, which is close to ideal. The couch potato, on the other hand, with a waist of 60 and a buttocks of 60 has a BFATI of 44 which is seriously overweight and a normal person with a typical waist of 37 and buttocks of 39 which yields a BFATI of 28 which is still within the desirable range. Clearly the BFATI gives a more meaningful reference number with which to start your analysis. BMI tells you little but BFATI sets you on the road to discovery.

To do your own BFATI caculations automatically: insert your data and click Calculate.

Note: If you insert human size numbers you will get good results but if you insert absurd numbers you will get absurd results.

Click HERE for the pounds/inches BFATI calculator.

Enter data below in the grams/centimeter BFATI calculator.

BFATI # = W x (G + B) / H x H x H
BFATI # = W in grams times the sum of Girth in centimeters plus Buttocks in centimeters divided by Height in centimeters cubed
BFATI = Weight: grams         times (
Waist: centimeters               plus
Buttocks: centimeters )           Divided by
Height: centimeters cubed


BFATI =
Use the derived number below to place you on the FATS chart.
JavaScript rewritten from javascriptsource.com code.

General comments on your BFATI score.

The comments give you an easily remember name for your level of fat and are helpful for finding the location of your body type on the BFATI chart. By doing the BFATI calculation you can immediately know which material on the chart applies to you and to your problems. If your BFATI number is 22 or 23 it will correspond to the standard BMI number but the more your number is away from 22.5 the more the standard BMI will not show the variation of your body fat but BFATI will. The system covers everyone. The BFATI scale is designed to go from extremely small to extremely tall and from extremely muscular to extremely fat. Even very unusual body types will be discovered and discussed on the BFATI chart.

Predicting risk of type 2 diabetes among men:

Some ancillary research was found based solely on waist mesurments but it is all that is available as no studies have been reported on waist coupled with height and body density, since the fifty year old studies: William H. Sheldon's 1954 "Atlas of Men". These current studies are probably valid for normally heighted people but it only seems reasonable that a muscular six foot person would not be at as much risk of diabetes with a waist of 39 inches as would be a fatty five footer with 39 inch waist. Considering the interest in the world wide epidemic of fat one would expect a plethora of good studies.

29-34 inches        Comparison base group for the Diabetes Type 2 risks.
34.3-35.9 inches  1 x base risk group
36-37.8 inches     2 x base risk group
37.9-39.8 inches  3 x base risk group
40-62 inches        8 x base risk group

see Tim Parsons - http://www.jhsph.edu

Some suggestions my grandma could have given me.

Try and maintain the weight that you felt best at when you were about 25 years old. Generally that will be about a BMI of 23. The recomended BMI (height to weight) scale is good for most people near its 22.5 ideal. And people over age 25 who are near the ideal don't really have a problem and should just keep living a reasonable life style. It is those who are not near the ideal who need accurate guidance and they are not well served by the old BMI based suggestions. They need the new and improved BFATI scale.

Everyone knows that when someone eats too much they gain weight get fat and that being fat is uncomfortable, casuses illness and early death. Everyone knows that eating too little causes weight loss and that loosing too much weight is uncomfortable, causes illness and early death. So, what's the problem?

Why is there an eating epidemic? One easy answer is that their is a superabundance of cheap food. But, we don't have to eat it. Another is that it is in our genes to overeat and store food on our bodies, in preperation for a possible famine. But, we now know how to store food safely and we don't have to eat it, at least not right now. Another is that eating is a social gesture. But, we don't have to gorge ourselves when being social and usually don't. Another, is to blame fast food corporations for making serving sizes too big. But, we don't have to buy them or eat them. Another is that modern food tastes too good, and when we are hungry it tastes even better. But, when we are full it doesn't taste so good and our body encourges us to stop eating. So why don't we just stop eating? Why do we seemingly choose to get fat and even be happy being obese?

Perhaps it would help to restate the problem as, "How do we stop eating when we have had just the right amount of food?" Everyone stops eating at some point, but what is that point and how do we reach it sooner during a meal? The simpelest and cheapest way to stop eating sooner is to feel full and satisfied sooner. One method to achieve that is to drink a lot of water as soon as you sit down to a meal, it fills up the stomach and if you keep drinking non-caloric beverages throughout the meal you will feel full sooner. But, it doesn't work very well. Another technique, you can get more of the sensation of eating by choosing a great variety of sensations by eating wierd foods. Choose ones that are chewy, crunchy, noisy and strange tasting. Eat foods that slow you down and give lots of sensation such as too hot or too cold, too tough too slimey, too spicy. You get more food pleasue if the food is flavorfull, but that doesn't necessarily mean caloric even plain celery can be tasty if it is fresh. Eat spicy food at the beginning then rince your mouth with water before eating bland high caloric foods so that your body recognizes the fat content. There are lots of little habits that one can cultivate, like not eating unless you are with someone at a meal. Only eat after they start eating and stop imediately when they stop. Don't eat caloric appetizers before a meal or caloric drinks after a meal. Only eat caloric food during sit down meals. Always drink coffee, tea or hot water and never pop, beer or other alcoholic drinks. These things are all obvious but doing them isn't so easy because there are so many stimui to encourgue you to eat and so few to tell you to stop. You need to cultivate those habits that tell you to stop eating, to get up from the table and take a walk. Take a walk should be your eating mantra.

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Liability disclaimer statement: These Probaways contain new and unique information that has been created, tested and retested by me alone. You must approach these findings and materials very carefully as your results may differ greatly from my experience and I can offer no recompensation of any kind for any injuries.

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