Lean Body Mass Formula

Health Formula • Published on July 30, 2026 • Last updated July 30, 2026

Mathematical Equation

$$\begin{aligned} \text{Boer (Male):} \quad &LBM = 0.407W + 0.267H - 19.2 \\ \text{Boer (Female):} \quad &LBM = 0.252W + 0.473H - 48.3 \end{aligned}$$

Variable Definitions

W

Body weight in kilograms

H

Height in centimeters

LBM

Lean Body Mass — total body weight minus fat mass (muscle, bone, organs, water)

Detailed Explanation

In-Depth Guide

Key Concept

Lean Body Mass represents everything in the body except fat.

The Boer formula estimates it directly from weight and height using gender-specific regression coefficients, without requiring a body fat percentage measurement.

It is commonly averaged together with other validated equations (James, Hume formulas) for a more robust estimate, and is useful for tracking muscle mass and setting nutrition targets independent of fat mass changes.

How to Calculate: Step-by-Step

1. Record body weight (kg) and height (cm). 2. Apply the Boer formula for your gender: Male uses coefficients (0.407, 0.267, −19.2); Female uses (0.252, 0.473, −48.3). 3. The result is your estimated Lean Body Mass in kg. 4. If body fat percentage is already known, LBM can alternatively be calculated directly as Weight × (1 − Body Fat%/100).

Worked Calculation Example

Male, Weight = 80 kg, Height = 178 cm: - LBM = 0.407×80 + 0.267×178 − 19.2 - LBM = 32.56 + 47.53 − 19.2 = 60.9 kg - This means approximately 60.9 kg of the 80 kg total body weight is lean mass (muscle, bone, organs, water), and roughly 19.1 kg is fat mass.

Common Use Cases

  • Tracking muscle mass changes during a fitness or nutrition program
  • Setting protein intake targets based on lean mass rather than total weight
  • Estimating fat mass indirectly when body fat percentage is unknown

Frequently Asked Questions

Boer, James, and Hume formulas were each derived from different population samples and regression approaches, so they can differ by a few kilograms for the same person — averaging multiple formulas helps reduce this individual variance.

No — Lean Body Mass includes muscle plus bone, organs, and body water, not muscle alone, so it is always higher than muscle mass by itself.

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