Your body fat percentage is the percentage of your weight that comes from fat. Skin-fold calipers are a common method of measuring body fat percentage, but you may not have access to calipers. You can also measure body fat percentage with a scale and tape measure.

Body fat percentage measures the amount of lean tissue you have in relation to fat, which gives you a better picture of your health compared to your gross weight on a scale.

Body fat percentage for elite athletes can vary based on many factors, so no "typical" guideline exists. Although elite athletes in some sports are often slim and muscular, this isn't the case with all elite athletes.

Body fat percentage measures your body weight composition. Specifically how much of your weight comes from fat vs. lean mass. A healthy body fat percentage is 18 to 24% for the average male and 25 to 31% for the average female.

Saggy skin can be unsightly and difficult to manage. Loose fat can appear on the stomach, arms and thighs, making it difficult to wear your favorite clothing. Decreasing your body fat percentage will help to tighten up sagging areas.

While your waist measurement and weight can help you estimate whether you're at a healthy size -- and whether or not you're at a higher risk of weight-related illness -- they aren't the best way to figure out your body fat levels. To get an accurate measurement of your body fat, you'll have to consult a professional.

Whether you're trying to build muscle or lose weight, you may be adding more protein to your diet. While protein offers a number of benefits when consumed in adequate amounts, excess calories from protein are converted to body fat.

Measurements of your body composition, or body fat levels, give you a more complete picture of your body's healthy weight than using a scale alone.

Your body stores excess calories as body fat. Some of this fat, known as essential fat, is required for good health -- it helps with vitamin absorption, temperature regulation and, in women, childbearing. But too much body fat can pose a health risk.

Calipers calculate body fat by pulling fat away from muscle. This creates skinfolds. The calipers measure the folds’ lengths at different sites. When using the Jackson-Pollock method — the most accurate — the tester checks three sites. These depend on gender, and they are always taken on the body's right side.

Excess fat in your body falls into one of two categories -- subcutaneous "soft fat" which lies right under your skin, and visceral "hard fat," located deep in your abdomen.

Once upon a time bathroom scales just told you your weight, now they can tell you how much of your weight is fat. The new generation of digital bathroom scales can also track your weight loss and share the information via Wi-Fi with your smartphone, tablet or iPad.