Body fat for males aged 60 to 69
A tape measure and a height are enough for the Navy method. The sample is a man in his 60s at 5 ft 10 in with a 37 inch waist and a 16 inch neck.
How it works
For males, body fat percent is 86.010 times the base 10 log of waist minus neck, minus 70.041 times the base 10 log of height, plus 36.76. All measures are in inches. For a man in his 60s the height on this page is 70 inches and the waist is 37 inches.
Worked example
A man in his 60s who is 5 ft 10 in tall has a 37 inch waist and a 16 inch neck. Waist minus neck is 21 inches. The base 10 log of 21 is 1.32222, and 1.32222 × 86.01 = 113.724. The base 10 log of 70 is 1.84510, and 1.84510 × 70.041 = 129.233. 113.724 − 129.233 + 36.76 = 21.25, which rounds to 21.3 percent. That is in the average range.
Common questions
Can I enter centimeters?
Yes. Switch the units and the page converts everything to inches before it does the math. For a man in his 60s at 5 ft 10 in, a waist of 37 inches is 94.0 cm and a neck of 16 inches is 40.6 cm.
How accurate is the Navy method?
It is an estimate. It is usually within a few percentage points of more precise methods, and careful measuring matters. For a man in his 60s at 5 ft 10 in, a reading of 21.3 percent could be a few points higher or lower in practice.
Where do I place the tape?
Measure the neck just below the larynx. For men measure the waist at the navel. For women measure the waist at its narrowest point and the hips at their widest. Keep the tape snug and level without squeezing. For a man in his 60s at 5 ft 10 in the waist number is 37 inches and the neck number is 16 inches.
Does age change the result?
The formula does not use age. The same measurements give the same estimate at any age. A man in his 60s at 5 ft 10 in with a 37 inch waist and a 16 inch neck gets 21.3 percent.
What is a healthy body fat percentage?
Ranges depend on sex and goals. The American Council on Exercise lists essential fat, athletes, fitness, average and obesity ranges. At 21.3 percent, a man in his 60s at 5 ft 10 in falls in the average range, which spans 18 to 24 percent.