| Body fat is something that most people cringe | | | | |
| at. The truth is, body fat is essential for | | | | For this test, a low electric current is sent |
| many reasons; however, having too much body | | | | through the body. Muscle contains a lot of |
| fat is not good. So what is healthy? In | | | | water, and water is a good conductor for |
| order to figure out healthy body fat | | | | electricity, so the current will sail through |
| measurements, we have to understand the two | | | | muscle until it gets to fat, which is not a |
| types of fat. Essential fat is the fat that | | | | good conductor. The machine takes this |
| everyone absolutely needs for survival. This | | | | information to calculate your body fat |
| fat helps regulate your body temperature and | | | | percentage. |
| helps cushion your organs. A certain amount | | | | |
| of storage fat is also needed for extra | | | | 2) Skinfold Measurements |
| cushioning of organs. | | | | |
| | | | This test is the only one that depends on a |
| The key to maintaining a healthy body fat | | | | human. A professional will use a set of |
| percentage is not having too much storage | | | | calipers to take measurements from certain |
| fat, but enough essential fat. Essential fat | | | | sites on your body. Some tests require three |
| should be around 3% for men and 12% for | | | | sites, while others can require seven sites. |
| women. The rest of the percentage is storage | | | | Typical sites for measurements are usually |
| fat. When looking at healthy body fat | | | | thighs, stomach, and arms. The person |
| percentages, age, along with gender, provides | | | | administering the test will take a fold of |
| a guideline because as you get older, your | | | | skin and fat and measure with calipers. |
| healthy body fat percentage increases. | | | | These measurements get plugged into a |
| | | | formula, which computes your body fat |
| Women | | | | percentage. |
| | | | |
| Ages 20-40 21-33% | | | | 3) Hydrostatic Weighing |
| | | | |
| Ages 41-60 23-35% | | | | Of the three tests, this one is the most |
| | | | accurate. A person sits in a tub of water on |
| Ages 61-79 24-36% | | | | a scale and submerges their entire body. All |
| | | | of the air in the lungs is blown out to give |
| Men | | | | the most accurate reading. This test takes |
| | | | your underwater weight, and from that number |
| Ages 20-40 8-19% | | | | your body fat percentage is calculated. |
| | | | |
| Ages 41-60 11-22% | | | | It is important to keep in mind that there |
| | | | are two sides to the range of healthy body |
| Ages 61-79 13-25% | | | | fat percentages. It's dangerous to be over |
| | | | the percentage, but it's also very dangerous |
| Above are healthy body fat percentages at | | | | to be below your range. Women require more |
| every age. There are several ways to get | | | | body fat than men due to hormonal and |
| your body fat measured by a professional; | | | | childbearing requirements, so falling below |
| there are also many different home body fat | | | | your range can effect pregnancy. For people |
| tests that you can do yourself. Many | | | | looking to lose some weight, it is very |
| bathroom scales are now equipped with a body | | | | important that the weight you lose does not |
| fat calculator. If you'd like to get actual | | | | put you under a healthy body fat percentage. |
| measurements, there are three common tests | | | | Knowing your healthy body fat percentage |
| that can be administered. | | | | range will give you a weight loss goal that |
| | | | will maximize your efforts! |
| 1) Bioelectrical Impedance | | | | |