We know more often the Body Mass Index, or BMI, which allows to evaluate its corpulence. But there is also the Fat (or greasy ) Mass Index . A lesser-known measure that allows you to assess the proportion of fat in your body.
Fill in your height (in cm), your weight (in kg) as well as your age (in years) and your sex, we will then be able to calculate your IMG and you will be able to obtain an immediate interpretation below. Please note that this test is not the BMI test .
INTERPRETATION OF THE FAT MASS INDEX
The interpretation of the formula is done according to the proposals of Deurenberg (1) . A distinction must be made between interpretation for women and interpretation for men, which are different.
For women :
| IMG value | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Less than 25% | Too skinny |
| Between 25% and 30% | normal percentage |
| Greater than 30% | too much fat |
For men :
| IMG value | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Less than 15% | Too skinny |
| Between 15% and 20% | normal percentage |
| Greater than 20% | too much fat |
The classic interpretation is a valid interpretation in the majority of cases, from the age of 16.
If you are above or below the norm, then a doctor or a nutritionist are the best people to help you reduce your body fat percentage, as part of a diet and an adapted lifestyle. .
Don’t forget that beyond an aesthetic criterion, calculating your IMG and obtaining a result in the “good range” will allow you to reduce the often dangerous consequences of excess body fat, hence the interest of regularly calculate this fat mass index.
FORMULA
There are 4 formulas (1) to calculate the Fat Mass Index.
Deurenberg’s first formula:
I M G ( % ) = ( 1.20 ∗ I M C ) + ( 0.23 ∗ A g e ) − ( 10.8 ∗ S e x e ) − 5.4
Deurenberg’s second formula:
IM G ( % ) = ( 1.29 ∗ I M C ) + ( 0.20 ∗ A g e ) − ( 11.4 ∗ S e x e ) − 8.0
Gallagher’s formula:
I M G ( % ) = ( 1.46 ∗ I M C ) + ( 0.14 ∗ A g e ) − ( 11.6 ∗ S e x e ) − 10.0
The Jackson-Pollock formula:
I M G ( % ) = ( 1.61 ∗ I M C ) + ( 0.13 ∗ A g e ) − ( 12.1 ∗ S e x e ) − 13.9
We have chosen, on this page, to apply the first formula among the four because it is the most used . It is a formula whose origin dates back to 1991 (1) .
For the woman the value “Sex” is equal to 0 while for the man this value is equal to 1. As you have surely noticed, each calculation of the IMG is made according to the BMI.
Important : this formula only applies in very general cases. A pregnant woman, for example, cannot find a viable interpretation of her calculated fat mass. This is also valid for children aged 15 or under, adults over 50, very muscular people, etc. The ACE (3) indicates for example that an athlete (male) will generally have 6 to 13% of fat mass for example.
For children aged 15 or under, however, Deurenberg has developed a different formula :
I M G ( % ) = ( 1.51 ∗ I M C ) + ( 0.70 ∗ A g e ) − ( 3.6 ∗ S e x e ) + 1.4
Remember that this fat mass index is only one indicator among many others; it only reflects a scientific measurement, which is not always viable! If you have any doubts about your amount of mass, consult a doctor.
WHY IMG?
The fat mass index allows you to estimate the proportion between your fat mass and your muscle mass. The IMG is intended for people between 15 and 50 years old, except if you are an athlete (your muscle mass being more developed) and pregnant women. Children and the elderly are not concerned by the IMG, because of their age.
Knowing your fat mass index is useful to realize the proportion of fat in our body. Indeed, excess fat can have more or less serious consequences on health, which can range from shortness of breath to cholesterol, or even cause the risk of stroke (Cardio-Vascular Accidents). Regular monitoring using this index is therefore ideal for monitoring body fat and avoiding health problems.