Contents:
- Medical Video: 6 SIGNS THAT YOU MAY HAVE HIGH CHOLESTEROL
- What is the percentage of normal body fat?
- How do I find out my body fat percent?
Medical Video: 6 SIGNS THAT YOU MAY HAVE HIGH CHOLESTEROL
Having too much body fat, it will definitely make your body look big and wide. But without fat, your body will not be able to do various functions. So, body fat is actually important and must be owned by everyone. But of course there are limits. Then, what is the limit of normal body fat? How do you measure it?
What is the percentage of normal body fat?
The body needs fat to regulate hormone production and helps the body absorb some types of vitamins. But even though it's important, that doesn't mean you have to compete to increase body fat. Body fat levels that can still be considered normal are healthy and have a limit. You have to maintain normal fat levels so you don't experience bodily dysfunction. Here is a normal range of body fat that is common according to the American College Sports Medicine:
- Women: 20-32%
- Male: 10-22%
But this actually depends on gender, age, and physical activity that he does everyday. The more often he does physical activity, the less fat levels in his body. Therefore, athletes certainly have less fat than you who only do regular exercise once a week. The following are normal fat levels depending on physical activity performed:
- Athletes have around 14-20% of total fat in female athletes and 6-13% in male athletes
- People who often exercise, but not athletes usually have fat levels of 21-24% in women and 14-17% in men
- People who rarely exercise but total fat is still considered normal and healthy if they have fat ranging from 25-31% in women and 18-25% in men
Fat levels in the body are very closely related to nutritional status. If the level is excessive - women more than 32% and men more than 25% - it indicates that he has excessive weight (obesity) and is at risk of experiencing various chronic diseases.
How do I find out my body fat percent?
If you want to know how much percent body fat is, then you should do some special tests. Usually, body fat will be measured by a special clamping device called a caliper. Or also can also use special scales that can detect fat levels in the body. You can do this kind of examination when doing a complete examination at the hospital.
But, if you don't have the tool, to make it easier, you can calculate it with a special formula. However, beforehand you have to know what your current body mass index (BMI) is. If so, you can use formulas like the following:
- Men: (1.20 x BMI) + (0.23 x Age) - 10.8 - 5.4
- Women: (1.20 x BMI) + (0.23 x Age) - 5.4
For example, if you are a woman who is 20 years old and has a height of about 160 cm and weighs 55 kg, then your BMI is 21.4 m / kg2. So if it is included in the formula, you get your body fat levels which is 24.88%.
Indeed this is just a prediction formula, so it certainly can be 100 percent accurate. But this way, you can find out the range of fat that causes all the folds in your body. If you want to know your body fat levels accurately, then you should consult this with your doctor.
