# Muscle % measurements? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 17, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscle-measurements/182520 "2003-06-17T18:49:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscle-measurements/182520/1 "2003-06-17T18:49:30Z")
Is there an easy way to find out how much of your body mass/weight your muscles take up? I’m wondering because while I’m techincally, according to BMI calculators, just a few pounds short of Obese(even after losing aprox. 85 lbs since starting), I don’t feel or look it amd that probably has to do with the fact I’ve been weight training for the last year or so, so I’ve probably developed some nice muscle mass. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscle-measurements/182520/2 "2003-06-17T19:19:14Z")
You can have your body fat percentage calculated, which will give you a resulting lean muscle indication as well. My gym uses the Bod Pod. I think Bod Pod has a web site that explains the process. Your gym should be able to give you some ideas. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscle-measurements/182520/3 "2003-06-17T19:40:25Z")
Anything that’s not fat is contained in your lean body mass–organs, bones, water, and muscle all count. Don’t place too much stock in BMI. However, unless you’ve been taking steroids, there’s no way you’d add more than 20 pounds of muscle in one year. Here’s how you can estimate: for an adult male who’s relatively lean but doesn’t exercise, muscle makes up 40-45% of his mass (a similar adult female would have 30-35% muscle). ---
**Author:** ![stoyel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/54ee81/32.png) [@stoyel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stoyel)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscle-measurements/182520/4 "2003-06-17T22:24:10Z")
The BMI is notoriously inaccurate, as it is based solely on height and weight. For perspective, by its standards, Michael Jordan is significantly overweight (BMI 25). This site ( [http://generous.net/health/newbmi.shtml](http://generous.net/health/newbmi.shtml) ) lists the BMI scores of the Cleveland Indians. Five, count 'em, five scores are in the ‘healthy’ range. Of course, professional athletes have more muscle mass than us normal folk, but it’s still pretty absurd. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscle-measurements/182520/5 "2003-06-17T23:04:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stoyel \* > \*\*The BMI is notoriously inaccurate, as it is based solely on height and weight. For perspective, by its standards, Michael Jordan is significantly overweight (BMI 25). > > This site ( [http://generous.net/health/newbmi.shtml](http://generous.net/health/newbmi.shtml) ) lists the BMI scores of the Cleveland Indians. Five, count 'em, five scores are in the ‘healthy’ range. > > Of course, professional athletes have more muscle mass than us normal folk, but it’s still pretty absurd. \*\* I got the idea that BMI wasn’t all it was cracked up to be (I’m a little chubby, but nowhere near as bad a shape as my BMI would have me believe). ---
**Author:** ![Paco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a6a055/32.png) [@Paco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paco)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscle-measurements/182520/6 "2003-06-17T23:38:25Z")
I have consistantly stayed about BMI 22-25, and I am in much better shape now than I used to be. I am about 6’2 and I weigh 194 lbs and they say I am obese. Na, it isn’t right. ---
**Author:** ![cdhostage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@cdhostage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cdhostage)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscle-measurements/182520/7 "2003-06-18T01:23:14Z")
I think that the BMI is made to make the healthiest sedentary people - like, based on stats showing that fat people die earlier, and if your society is composed largely of inactive office workers, then you want your people to not have excess fat clogging up their veins. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscle-measurements/182520/8 "2003-06-18T02:00:36Z")
It is not the best measurement but most people are not as thin as they should be. I am built nice about 190# 6’. I have a BMI of 25 which is the most I can be for Normal. But I lift weights I have 45c and 32w. You can generally get an idea of if you are OK or not. For instance if you have love handles you need to lose weight. You can be thin and have them. That means while your caloric intake is fine you are not exercising enuff to take the fat off. Also to measure your body fat it is best to use the water submmersion (sp?) test. I have tried those electronic devices and I have ranged anywhere from 9% to 22% bodyfat with those. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscle-measurements/182520/9 "2003-06-18T08:19:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Markxxx \* > \*\* > You can generally get an idea of if you are OK or not. For instance if you have love handles you need to lose weight. You can be thin and have them. That means while your caloric intake is fine you are not exercising enuff to take the fat off. > \*\* Pardon me for asking, but what’s a love handle? ---
**Author:** ![Calladair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Calladair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calladair)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscle-measurements/182520/10 "2003-06-18T12:10:29Z")
It’s the ring of fat around your tummy. It’ll hang over your belt if it’s big enough. Makes one pear shaped. Rather odd term. ---
**Author:** ![Boo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@Boo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muscle-measurements/182520/11 "2003-06-18T13:36:51Z")
plnnr is right, the bod pod is the best way…NFL and other professional sports teams along with major colleges are now using the bod pod. Good luck finding one though.