Calculating weight loss percentage is a way to see your weight loss from a new perspective. Instead of just looking at the pounds drop on a scale, it’s a way to see that weight loss as a representation of how much your body is changing individually.
For example, let’s say you and a friend both agree to lose 10 pounds as a New Year’s resolution. If you start out at 160 pounds, losing those 10 pounds will require losing 6.25% of your body weight. But for someone starting at 250 pounds, those same 10 pounds will only be 4% of their body weight.
Weight loss percentage is a good way to assess your weight loss within the context of your own body. Additionally, research shows that even losing just 5% of your body weight can lower your risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
To calculate weight loss percentage, divide the amount of weight lost by your starting weight, then multiply that by 100. To break it down, the formula will be: number of pounds lost/your starting weight x 100.
For example,
if you started out at 250 pounds and recently lost 10 pounds, you would calculate weight loss percentage like this: 10/250 x 100. This would show you that you’ve lost 4% of your weight.