19
Section III – Understanding Results and Norms
In order to determine a discernable change in body composition a 3 % change in body weight is
recommended.
2
Body Weight
:
Indicates the gross total body weight.
% Body Fat
:
Total Percent of Body Fat. Norms are based on age
3
%Body Fat Norms
Male:
Under Fat
Optimal
Overfat
Obese
Ages 4-5
<12
12-19
19-23
23+
Age 6
<12
12-20
20-24
24+
Age 7
<13
13-20
20-25
25+
Age 8
<13
13-21
21-26
26+
Age 9
<13
13-22
22-27
27+
Ages 10-11
<13
13-23
23-28
28+
Age 12
<12
12-23
23-28
28+
Age 13
<12
12-22
22-27
27+
Age 14
<11
11-21
21-26
26+
Age 15
<10
10-21
21-25
25+
Ages 16-18
<10
10-20
20-24
24+
Ages 18-39
<10
10-21
21-26
26+
Ages 40-59
<11
11-22
22-27
27+
Ages 60+
<13
13-24
24-29
29+
Female:
Under Fat
Optimal
Overfat
Obese
Age 4
<14
14-22
22-26
26+
Age 5
<14
14-22
22-26
26+
Age 6
<14
14-23
23-27
27+
Age 7
<15
15-25
25-29
29+
Age 8
<15
15-26
26-30
30+
Age 9
<16
16-27
27-31
31+
Age 10
<16
16-28
28-32
32+
Ages 11-13
<16
16-29
29-33
33+
Ages 14-16
<16
16-30
30-34
34+
Age 17
<16
16-30
30-35
35+
Age 18
<17
17-31
31-35
35+
Ages 18-39
<20
20-34
34-39
39+
Ages 40-59
<21
21-35
35-40
40+
Ages 60+
<22
22-36
36-41
41+
2
Schoeller, Dale. Human Body Composition: Human Kinetics, 2005. Print
3
Based on National Institute of Health/World Health Organization Guidelines.
