FFMI is an alternative to BMI where in FFMI, the muscle along with fat mass is considered based on height and weight. But the muscle mass is not taken into consideration in BMI. This online FFMI calculator will help you to find your FFMI using your body fat.
The fat-free mass index is - similar to the BMI - an index that relates your weight, your height and your fat-free body mass (the sum of muscles, blood, water, nerves, organs, bones, etc.) and calculates a value with which you can estimate whether you have too much or too little body fat.
The fat-free mass index (FFMI) is a measure of how pronounced the muscles in the body are. In particular, it describes the increase or decrease in muscle mass.
The FFMI index is not an entirely new concept, but was proposed by scientists as early as the early 1990s to describe nutritional status.
It provides a better picture of body composition than the established BMI value.
Formula of Fat Free Mass Index
Fat free mass index is useful for athlete people who has muscle rich body.
Example
A person weighing 50 kgs, with body 12 % and height 5’4 will have
Lean Weight =
=50 * (1.0 – (12 / 100))
= 50 * ( 1 – 0.12)
= 50 * 0.88
= 44.00 kg = 97 (Pound) lbs
FFMI
= ( 44 / 2.2) / ((5*12.0) + 4)*0.0254)^2
= 20 / ((60 + 4) * 0.0254)^2
= 20 / (1.6256)^2
= 20 / 2.6425
= 7.56
Adjusted FFMI
= FFMI + (6* 5 + 12.0 + 4) * 0.0254) – 1.8
= 7.56 + ( 6.0 * ( ((5 * 12.0 + 4) * 0.0254) – 1.8 ))
= 6.522
Fat-free mass is the mass in the body that does not consist of fat. This includes muscles as well as organs, bones, water, tendons, ligaments, blood, nerves, etc.
Fat-free mass makes up about 65 to 85% of the total body mass. This depends on age, sex and individual fitness level. In extreme cases, it may be below or above this range.
In younger people, fat-free mass is higher than in older people, because as people age, they lose muscle mass. For biological reasons, women have a higher body fat percentage than men, but their fat-free mass is lower.
Unlike body fat, fat-free mass is relatively stable. When you eat more food than you consume, your body usually stores fat. As a result, the body fat percentage increases. If you want to increase fat-free mass, then you have to "work" for it and build muscle.