Body fat percentage

While other measurements like BMI can certainly be informative, they don’t capture all aspects of weight and health. Indicators like body fat percentage can be a bit more useful, as it helps to distinguish the ratio between lean muscle and fat mass.

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When thinking about weight, it is important to consider body composition as it relates to fat. Excess body fat is what can cause chronic disease like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and metabolic syndrome, while too little body fat can cause poor immunity, decreased energy, and hormonal imbalances. Body fat percentage measures the proportion of lean mass to fat tissue.

An individual’s “ideal” body fat percentage will depend on their age, activity level, and sex. For example, an athlete may have a higher BMI that would categorize them as overweight. However, when you consider their body fat percentage, you may realize that they have a low fat-to-lean mass ratio. Knowing this information, we now understand that they are not at high risk of typical risks associated with being overweight, as a lot of their weight is attributed to muscle.

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Therefore, body weight percentage can give us a clearer idea as to how someone’s weight may or may not impact their health. Below are the ideal body fat percentages for men and women:
Men
Essential fat: 2-5%
Athletes: 6-3%
Fitness: 14-17%
Acceptable: 18-24%
Obesity: 25% or greater
Women
Essential fat: 10-13%
Athletes: 14-20%
Fitness: 21-24%
Acceptable: 25-31%
Obesity: 32% or greater