What is Body Fat Percentage?
Your body fat percentage is the weight of your fat divided by your total weight. The result indicates your essential fat as well as storage fat.
Essential fat – this is the amount of fat we need to survive. Women require a higher percentage than men. Essential fat is 2%-5% in men, and 10%-13% in women.
Storage fat – this consists of fat accumulation in adipose tissue, some of which protects our internal organs in the chest and abdomen.
Total body fat percentage – this is essential fat plus storage fat.
The American Council on Exercise recommends the following percentages:
Essential fat
Women 10-12%
Men 2-4%
Total fat
Athletes
Men 6-13%
Women 14-20%
Non-athletes classed as fit
Men 14-17%
Women 21-24%
Acceptable
Men 18-25%
Women 25-31%
Overweight
Men 26-37%
Women 32-41%
Obese
Men 38% or more
Women 42% or more
Many experts say that calculating people’s body fat percentage is the best way to gauge their fitness level because it is the only measurement that includes the body’s true composition. Any male whose body fat percentage is over 25% or female over 31% is either overweight or possibly obese.
Body fat percentage would not make the couch potato seem fitter than the 100 meter Olympic champion – as was the case with BMI.
There are various ways of calculating a person’s body fat percentage. None of them can give a 100% accurate figure, but the estimates are accepted as fairly close. Examples include near-infrared interactance, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, and bioelectrical impedance analysis.
Many gyms and doctor’s practices have devices that can tell you what your body fat percentage is.
Conclusion
This article has briefly explained three ways to help you find out whether your weight is ideal, and what your target should be if it is not. You can work out your BMI, WHR, or Body Fat Percentage.
BMI and WHR can be done easily in your home. WHR is more accurate than BMI. However, BMI is a useful indicator if you are an “average” person – not an Olympic athlete or a dedicated weight trainer.
If you embark on a weight loss regime that includes exercise and diet, bear in mind that the exercise will probably increase your muscle mass, which may increase your weight, even though your waist may shrink. Muscle weighs more than fat.
It might be better to aim for target waist, hips and chest measurements. A Waist-hip ratio goal is also possible. If you feel really dedicated, check your Body Fat Percentage; if you are not happy with the reading, discuss a realistic target with a nutritionist, sports scientist, or personal trainer and go for it!
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In my opinion your ideal weight is different for everyone. What sport do you do, how are you inviorment? What routines do you have everyday? What is ideal for one is not for another. That is just my two cents
Body fat percentage was something that I never really paid attention to when I was younger, but now that I’m entering into my 30′s I feel that it’s something I need to devote a little attention to. Especially due to the fact that the older you get, the more fat you hold onto.
Rahim Samuel
Body fat is a great measure of health and overall fitness. I agree with you that BMI is usually only a good indicator for the average person. If you are an athlete who strength trains heavily, your BMI reading might classify you as obese, yet your body fat % may be below 10. In other words, BMI is a good measure for the general population, but can be totally inaccurate in assessing athletes.