Frequently asked questions
For questions specifically about using the calculator itself — inputs, verdicts, and what “delusional” means as a result — see the calculator page. These are the broader questions about the site and the data behind it.
Is Delusion Calculators affiliated with Fresh & Fit or any podcast?
No. "Delusion calculator" and "standards calculator" are terms used broadly across several similar tools and discussed on various podcasts and social platforms — we aren't affiliated with any of them. This is our own independent build, with our own reference data and our own math.
Is this based on a peer-reviewed scientific study?
No — it's a statistical estimation tool, not a published study. It combines widely-available aggregate public data (Census-style age, income, and marital-status tables; CDC-style obesity prevalence; standard height norms) using a model we describe in full on the methodology page. Treat it as an honest calculator, not a citable research finding.
Does the calculator work for countries outside the U.S.?
Not yet — the reference data underlying every calculation is U.S.-specific. Someone outside the U.S. can still use it to see how they'd compare against the U.S. population, but the percentage won't reflect their own country's demographics. Country-specific datasets (UK, Canada, Australia) are on our radar as a future addition, not currently built.
Why did I get a different percentage from another delusion calculator I've seen?
Different tools use different reference data and different math — some multiply flat, independent percentages together with no correction for how those factors actually relate to each other; ours stratifies by age first (see our methodology page for the full detail). Neither approach is a ground-truth database of every single person, so treat any version, including ours, as an estimate.
Is calling something 'delusional' meant as an insult?
No — it's shorthand for "describes a small share of the population," not a judgment about whether a standard is valid to hold. Plenty of narrow, statistically rare preferences are perfectly reasonable to want; the calculator's only job is showing you the honest size of the pool, not telling you which standards to keep.
Who runs this site?
Delusion Calculators is an independently run project. You can read more about why it exists on the about page, or reach us directly — see the contact page.
How often is the underlying data updated?
The reference tables are static approximations reviewed periodically, not a live feed from any government API — see the methodology page for exactly what that means. If you notice a figure that looks out of date, we'd genuinely like to hear about it via the contact page.
Can I save or share my result?
Not as a built-in feature right now — there's no export or share-link button yet, since every calculation happens locally in your browser and nothing is sent to a server to generate a shareable link from. A screenshot works in the meantime; a proper share feature is something we may add later.