How Fat Are You?

How Fat Are You?

Since your lean muscle mass plays the key role in any type of weight management program, knowing your body composition can give you the most accurate prediction for a realistic weight.

There are six methods for determining your body composition including:

Body Fat Norms by Percentage

MEN

Age	20-30	30-40	40-50	50+
Very Low Fat	to 9	to 11	to 12	to 13
Low Fat	9-12	11-13	12-15	13-16
Ave Fat	13-16	14-17	16-20	17-21
Very High Fat	17-19	18-22	21-25	22-27
Overfat	20+	23+	26+	28+

WOMEN

Age	20-30	30-40	40-50	50+
Very Low Fat	to 17	to 18	to 20	to 21
Low Fat	17-20	18-21	20-23	21-24
Ave Fat	21-23	14-17	24-27	17-21
Very High Fat	24-27	25-29	28-31	31-35
Overfat	28+	30+	32+	36+

*critical amount of fat that is necessary for normal physiological function
for women is 12 percent. For men it is 5 percent.

??? Can I have 0 percent body fat?

It is impossible, even in severe starvation, to have no body fat. Your body won't work without some ESSENTIAL fat which occurs in your bone marrow, as part of your internal organs and in your brain and spinal cord. About 3% of a man's body is essential fat. Women require more essential body fat for childbearing and other hormone-related functions. Their essential body fat is about 12%.

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