What is Lean Body Mass?
Lean body mass (LBM) is everything in your body that isn't fat, including muscle, bone, organs, blood, and water. It's an important metric for athletes, bodybuilders, and anyone trying to improve body composition.
Why LBM Matters
LBM is metabolically active tissue that burns calories even at rest. Higher LBM means higher metabolism. Tracking LBM during weight loss ensures you're losing fat, not muscle. During weight gain, you want to maximize LBM increase while minimizing fat gain.
Boer Formula
This calculator uses the Boer formula, which estimates LBM based on height and weight. While not as accurate as DEXA scans, it provides a useful estimate for tracking changes over time.
Quick Tips
- BMI alone doesn't reflect overall health
- TDEE varies based on activity level
- Consult a healthcare professional for medical decisions
Frequently Asked Questions
Strength training combined with adequate protein intake (1.6-2.2g per kg body weight).
No, lean mass includes muscle plus bones, organs, and water. Muscle is part of lean mass.
Generally, higher is better. Men average 70-80%, women 60-70%.
Women have less testosterone, so building muscle is slower, but strength training is equally important.
Monthly measurements are sufficient to track progress from training programs.