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What is a Healthy Body Fat Percentage?

John Lister
John Lister

Medical experts today often argue that body fat percentage is a better guide to a person's health than other measures such as their body mass index. Body fat is made up of two components: essential fat and storage fat. Because different people have different needs for essential fat, the healthy body fat percentage varies across age and gender.

Body fat percentage is exactly what the name suggests: the percentage of your body weight which is made up of fat. It's usually considered to be a better guide to health than the body mass index, which simply looks at your weight and height. This can be misleading as, for example, an athletic and healthy person may have a high body mass index because they have a muscular physique. Alternatively, somebody with a low body mass index may have a dangerous proportion of their weight made up by fat, which can increase the danger of obesity-related health issues.

Body fat percentage is calculated by determining the percentage of body weight that is made up of fat.
Body fat percentage is calculated by determining the percentage of body weight that is made up of fat.

There are several ways of measuring to see if you have a healthy body fat percentage. The most common is bioelectrical impedance. This involves sending a small electrical signal through your body. Because fat has a lower water content than other tissue, it is a less effective conductor of electricity and thus slows down the movement of the signal.

Less common methods include using calipers to see how much fat can be pulled away from particular areas of the body. Some researchers use a technique involving infrared light, though this is not particularly reliable. The most effective way to check if somebody has a healthy body fat percentage is to weigh them underwater with their lungs emptied. This works because fat floats in water while bones and muscle sink. Naturally this technique should only ever be carried out by trained professionals.

BMI is not always the best measure of physical fitness, since muscle weighs more than fat.
BMI is not always the best measure of physical fitness, since muscle weighs more than fat.

Calculations to find a healthy body fat percentage have to take into account the age and gender of the person. That's because there's a certain level of fat, known as essential fat, which people need to survive. This level varies: women need more than men as their bodies are designed for pregnancy, while older people normally need more to keep warmer. Fat beyond this level is known as storage fat, some of which is needed as fuel if the body does not have enough food. Too little or too much storage fat can cause health risks.

A person with a body fat percentage greater than 35 is considered to be obese.
A person with a body fat percentage greater than 35 is considered to be obese.

Exactly what body fat percentage is healthy is a disputed point. There are several online charts which vary in the figures they give, though the general trends are largely the same. To give one example, the World Health Organization lists healthy female ranges as rising from 17-31% for an 18-year-old to 24-36% for somebody aged over 60, while the male ranges rise from 10-20% for an 18-year-old to 13-25% for somebody aged over 60. Because of the differing figures from different sources, it is best to consult your own doctor or other medical professional to determine what is a healthy body fat percentage for you.

Discussion Comments

Rundocuri

@ocelot60- I have also found that not everyone fits the mold of what doctors, dieticians, and other professionals say is a healthy body weight based on height and age. I have known thin, active people who have had health problems, and larger people who are the picture of health.

Follow your doctor's advice, make sure your blood pressure and cholesterol levels are in check, and otherwise don't worry too much about what your healthy body fat percentage should be based on something you heard or read.

Spotiche5

@ocelot60- Don't listen to others, but do what feels best to you. If you are what the experts say is 20 pounds overweight but you are healthy and feel good, don't worry about body fat charts that indicate that you are too fat.

Ocelot60

How do you know what your ideal body weight is? Though I have the tendency to gain a few extra pounds here and there, I feel best when I am not at what statistics say my best weight and healthy body fat percentage should be. For example, if I get too thin, I am tired all the time and just don't feel well. How do I find a happy medium when it comes to my weight, and feel good about it?

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    • Body fat percentage is calculated by determining the percentage of body weight that is made up of fat.
      By: Minerva Studio
      Body fat percentage is calculated by determining the percentage of body weight that is made up of fat.
    • BMI is not always the best measure of physical fitness, since muscle weighs more than fat.
      By: papa
      BMI is not always the best measure of physical fitness, since muscle weighs more than fat.
    • A person with a body fat percentage greater than 35 is considered to be obese.
      By: vpardi
      A person with a body fat percentage greater than 35 is considered to be obese.
    • Women need more essential fat than men.
      By: javiindy
      Women need more essential fat than men.