Healthy range of body fat
A specific quantity of fats are beneficial because fat helps to regulate body temperature, stock up energy, cushion and insulate the vital organs. According to the exercise council of American, essential fat is around 4% of body weight for men and 12% for women respectively. According to the American dietetic association, men should posses 20% body fats and women should posses 25% body fats.
Fat percentage concerns a lot:
It is very important to know percentage of body fat for two reasons. First, the higher the percentage of fat above average levels, the higher the health hazard for weight related diseases, like high blood pressure, heart disease, gallstones, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, and some cancers. Second, the higher the body fat percentage the fewer calories you need to maintain your balanced weight.
Fat Percentage in Men and Women:
Men carry less body fat compared to women. Body fat percentage in an average healthy woman is about 17-27 percent. In a man, the average body fat percentage is 10-20 percent.
According to body fat guidelines from American Council on Exercise
- In women essential fats should be in between 10-12% and in men should be 2-4%.
- In athletic women fats should be in between 14-20% and in athletic men should be 6-13%.
- In case of fit and fine women there should be 21-24% in women and similarly in 14-17%.
- In case of obese women 32% and above and in obese men 25% and above.
According to body Fat guidelines from American Dietetics Association
- In normal women fats should be 15-25% and in normal men 10-20%.
- In case of overweight women 25.1-29.9 is considered and in overweight men 20.1-24.4%.
- In case of obese women over 30% and in men 25 and above is considered.
A specific sum of fat is essential for energy stock up, bodily functions and body protection. Nevertheless, currently there are no explicit info on healthy body fat percentage.
