Body Fat Percentage

Body fat percentage measures what portion of your total body weight comes from fat. Unlike BMI, which only looks at height and weight, body fat percentage gives a more accurate picture of your health by distinguishing between fat and lean tissue like muscle.

Body fat percentage is the proportion of total body mass composed of adipose tissue, assessed via bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), or skinfold measurements. For Singaporean adults, healthy ranges are approximately 18–24% for men and 25–31% for women, with values above these thresholds associated with increased cardiometabolic risk independent of BMI.

BMI alone can be misleading — someone with high muscle mass may be classified as overweight. Body fat percentage provides a clearer picture of your health and helps Dr Wang track the effectiveness of your weight management programme at Accord Medical beyond just the scale.