English
44
Body Fat
Body fat is an important component of the body. From
protecting the joints as a vitamin repository to regulating the
body temperature, fat plays a vital role in the body. Thus the
goal is not to radically reduce the proportion of body fat, but
rather to achieve and maintain a healthy balance between
muscle and fat.
The Importance of Water for our Health
Approximately fifty-five to sixty percent of the human body
consist of water, depending on age and gender in varying
amounts.
Water has to fulfill several tasks within the body:
• It is the building block of our cells. That means that all the
cells in our body, whether skin cells, gland cells, muscle
cells, brain cells or others, are functional only if they con-
tain enough water.
• It is a solvent for important substances in our body.
• It is a means of conveyance for nutrients, the body’s own
substances and metabolic products.
Reference values for your fitness profile can be seen in the
benchmark table. It shows the dependency of body fat data
on age and gender. Always pay attention to your body’s
water balance, which, as well as the fat level, undergoes
strong fluctuations throughout the day. Therefore, to obtain
consistent data, always measure at the same time of day.
The calculated results of the body fat and water level should
only be considered as reference values. They are not recom-
mended to be used for medical purposes. Please always con-
sult a doctor if you have questions about a medical treatment
or a diet in order to achieve a normal body weight.
Body fat percentage guidelines (approx. figures)
Age
(Years)
Women
Underweight
Normal
Overweight
Obese
10–17
3.0 – 15.0
15.1 – 22.0
22.1 – 26.4
26.5 – 50.0
18–30
3.0 – 15.4
15.5 – 23.0
23.1 – 27.0
27.1 – 50.0
31–40
3.0 – 16.0
16.1 – 23.4
23.5 – 27.4
27.5 – 50.0
41–60
3.0 – 16.4
16.5 – 24.0
24.1 – 28.0
28.1 – 50.0
61–99
3.0 – 17.0
17.1 – 24.4
24.5 – 28.4
28.5 – 50.0
Age
(Years)
Men
Underweight
Normal
Overweight
Obese
10–17
3.0 – 12.0
12.1 – 17.0
17.1 – 22.0
22.1 – 50.0
18–30
3.0 – 12.4
12.5 – 18.0
18.1 – 23.0
23.1 – 50.0
31–40
3.0 – 13.0
13.1 – 18.4
18.5 – 23.0
23.1 – 50.0
41–60
3.0 – 13.4
13.5 – 19.0
19.1 – 23.4
23.5 – 50.0
61–99
3.0 – 14.0
14.1 – 19.4
19.5 – 24.0
24.1 – 50.0
Body water percentage guidelines (approx. figures)
Age
(Years)
Women
Men
Low
Normal
High
Low
Normal
High
10–17
< 54.0
54.0 – 60.0
> 60.0
< 57.0
57.0 – 62.0
> 62.0
18–30
< 53.5
53.5 – 59.5
> 59.5
< 56.5
56.5 – 61.5
> 61.5
31–40
< 53.0
53.0 – 59.0
> 59.0
< 56.0
56.0 – 61.0
> 61.0
41–60
< 52.5
52.5 – 58.5
> 58.5
< 55.5
55.5 – 60.5
> 60.5
61–99
< 52.0
52.0 – 58.0
> 58.0
< 55.0
55.0 – 60.0
> 60.0
Visceral fat percentage guidelines (approx. figures)
Visceral fat
Normal
Somewhat
too high
Too high
0 – 9
10 – 14
> 15
Visceral fat is fat located in the abdominal cavity, which
surrounds the internal organs. To a certain degree, it can
be attributed to abdominal fat. It is not directly visible, but
comprises a part of the abdominal volume. This fat acts as a
reserve during food shortages.
