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Why Measure Body Fat?
The key to long-term weight management and better health is building
lean muscle and losing body fat. Being healthy doesn’t mean getting
"skinny." A thin person can have an unhealthy excess of body fat. A
muscuslar person can technically be overweight, but healthy. Getting
and staying lean means controlling your body fat percentage.
Health professionals outline healthy body fat levels as follows:
• Fit: No more than 23% body fat for men, 27% for women.
• Exceeds Ideal Range: 24% or more body fat for men, 28% or more
for women.
• Obese: Defined as an excess of 30% body fat for men or women.
Measuring estimated body fat and weight together gives you a more
accurate picture of your total fitness. As part of a fitness plan, it helps you
set more realistic goals, and better reflects a positive healthy change in
your overall body composition. Unlike weight, body fat levels do not fluc-
tuate in response to gains or losses of muscle or water content.
Body fat isn’t always visible, and traditional scales can’t measure it.
Is All Body Fat Bad?
Everyone has some body fat. In fact, “Essential” body fat helps keep
you healthy. It cushions and insulates your joints, tissues and vital
organs. It helps regulate body temperature. It stores important vita-
mins. It even helps the body sustain itself when food is scarce. If you
had too little body fat, your body would start breaking down muscle
tissue for energy.
Too much body fat, however, can lead to serious health problems,
including heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, stroke,
osteoarthritis, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea and other respiratory
disorders, and certain types of cancer.
How Much Body Fat is Right for Me?
Here are some guidelines for determining a healthy body fat percent-
age. However, to determine the body fat range that’s right for you, we
recommend you consult your doctor.
Body Composition Analyzer Healthy Body Fat Guidelines
Under 30 Years Old
Over 30 Years Old
Women
17% to 24%
20% to 27%
Men
14% to 20%
17% to 23%
