Lean Body Mass Calculator

Lean Body Mass Calculator for Nutrition. Lean body mass is not interchangeable with skeletal muscle mass. A result greater than total body weight or at or below zero is rejected as an unsuitable input/model combination.

For shared guidance on choosing a tool and documenting results, read the clinical calculator workflow.

How this calculator works

Boer estimates lean body mass as 0.407W + 0.267H - 19.2 for the male coefficient and 0.252W + 0.473H - 48.3 for the female coefficient. Height must be centimeters for these coefficients.

When to use this calculator

Audit a calculation that explicitly specifies Boer lean mass. Keep the estimated value separate from a measured body-composition result and from the total weight on the weighing scale.

Inputs used

  • Adult weight in kg
  • Height in cm
  • Published sex coefficient

Clinical interpretation

Lean body mass is not interchangeable with skeletal muscle mass. A result greater than total body weight or at or below zero is rejected as an unsuitable input/model combination.

Worked example

At 80 kg and 180 cm, the male result is 32.56 + 48.06 - 19.2 = 61.42 kg. The female result is 20.16 + 85.14 - 48.3 = 57.00 kg. Entering 1.8 for height would not implement this equation correctly.

Limitations and safety notes

The original anthropometric model does not measure edema, organ mass or individual tissue composition. Its use as a dosing variable still depends on drug-specific evidence.

Frequently asked questions

Why reject a result instead of limiting it to body weight?

Clamping would hide an implausible estimate and make a failed model look like a valid measurement.

References

  • https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6496691/
  • https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11582266/

Editorial review and citation methodology

Maintained by the Quick Medical Calculator Editorial Team. Content record date: September 9, 2026. A content date is not evidence of independent clinical review. Individual clinical sign-off is not recorded on this page.

  • Prefer original validation studies for scoring systems and prediction tools.
  • Use current specialty society guidance, transplant allocation policy, public health guidance, or regulator resources when they govern clinical use.
  • Include limitations and safety notes when a calculator is population-specific, context-dependent, or unsuitable as a standalone decision tool.

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