You can't determine your body composition solely by your height and wrist size. Wrist size varies from person to person, and typically is associated with overall frame size rather than with body composition. The only way to obtain an accurate idea of your body composition is to measure your body fat percentage.

Whether you're headed to the beach, prepping for a special occasion or just want to jump-start a healthier lifestyle, you can set the foundation for belly fat loss in a week.

If you dream about being able to eat whatever you want and not gain weight, you're not alone. While no miracle foods are available to help you lose weight, filling your diet with the right foods may help you get to and maintain a healthy weight.

When visiting the doctor’s office it is likely that you have noticed the scales used there to measure your weight are very different than most at-home models. This type of scale is referred to as a physician beam scale and is ideal for determining an accurate weight.

Most adult women in the United States weigh more than they should. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010, 64 percent of U.S. women are either overweight or obese. Your ideal body weight depends on your height and frame size.

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.

A lot of factors beyond your control help determine your basal metabolic rate, which is the number of calories your body needs to perform basic functions like breathing. Your age, gender and genes, for example, play a role in setting your BMR.

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.

Transit time is the rate at which food passes all the way through your digestive tract – from ingestion at the mouth to elimination.

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.