What is a healthy body fat percentage?
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Jay Morgan answered:In order to assess what a healthy body fat percentage is, we must understand the difference between essential body fat and storage body fat. Essential fat is what the body needs for survival, and storage fat is what is needed for cushioning of organs and regulating body temperature. Essential fat should be around 3% for men and 12% for women. The rest of the percentage is storage fat. The healthy body fat chart below looks at age and gender.
Women
Ages 20-40 : 21-33%
Ages 41-60 : 23-35%
Ages 61-79 : 24-36%
Men
Ages 20-40 8-19%
Ages 41-60 11-22%
Ages 61-79 13-25%
Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulIn order to assess what a healthy body fat percentage is, we must understand the difference between essential body fat and storage body fat. Essential fat is what the body needs for survival, and storage fat is what is needed for cushioning of... More -
National Academy of Sports Medicine answered:There are many different body fat percentage tables, suggesting varying ranges for healthy percentages. The suggestions that follow are based on recommendations by the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
o Essential fat: 10-13% women 2-5% men
o Athletes: 14-20% women 6-13% men
o Fitness: 21-24% women 14-17% men
o Average: 25-31% women 18-24% men
o Obese: 32%+ women 25%+ men
There are many different body fat percentage tables, suggesting varying ranges for healthy percentages. The suggestions that follow are based on recommendations by the National Academy of Sports Medicine. o Essential... More -
Jim White of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics answered:Body fat percentage is often a more reliable way to determine how healthy an individual is as opposed to actual weight. The following body fat percentage chart is according to the NSCA guidelines.
Classification Women Men
Essential 10-12% 2-4%
Athletes 14-20% 6-13%
Fitness 21-24% 14-17%
Acceptable 25-31% 18-25%
Plus 32% plus 25% plus
The best ways to measure body fat percentage is through hydrostatic weighing, Dexa Scan or Bod Pod testing. However, a more accessible way to measure body fat percentage can be done through the use of Calipers, which is using skinfold measurements.
Body fat percentage is often a more reliable way to determine how healthy an individual is as opposed to actual weight. The following body fat percentage chart is according to the NSCA guidelines. Classification Women... More -
Betty Gutierrez - NASM Elite Trainer answered:
Classification
Women (% fat):- Essential Fat- 10-12%
- Athletes - 14-20%
- Fitness - 21-24%
- Acceptable - 25-31%
- Obese - 32%+
Men (% fat):
- Essential Fat - 2-4%
- Athletes - 6-13%
- Fitness - 14-17%
- Acceptable - 18-25%
- Obese - 25%+
ClassificationWomen (% fat): Essential Fat- 10-12% Athletes - 14-20% Fitness - 21-24% Acceptable - 25-31% Obese - 32%+ Men (% fat): Essential Fat - 2-4% Athletes - 6-13% Fitness - 14-17% Acceptable - 18-25% Obese - 25%+ More -
RealAge answered:Used in combination with body mass index (BMI) guidelines, body fat percentage can help assess disease risk. The following table presents healthy ranges of body fat percentage for adult men and women. Staying somewhere in the middle of these ranges should be your target.
Healthy body fat percentages:
Women:
- ages 20-39: 21% to 32%
- ages 40-59: 23% to 33%
- ages 60-79: 24% to 35%
- ages 20-39: 8% to 19%
- ages 40-59: 11% to 21%
- ages 60-79: 13% to 24%
In addition, BMI should be between 18.5 and 24.9.
Used in combination with body mass index (BMI) guidelines, body fat percentage can help assess disease risk. The following table presents healthy ranges of body fat percentage for adult men and women. Staying somewhere in the middle of these... More
