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Body Fat
Typical body fat as a percentage of total weight for a female is approximately 27%, and 15% for a male
Body is composed of muscle, bone, essential fats, storage fats, and other tissues as shown below
Tissue |
Male |
Female |
| Muscle | 45% | 36% |
| Bone | 15% | 12% |
| Total Fat
Essential Fat (women need more) Storage Fat |
15%
3% 12% |
27%
12% (needed for reproduction) 15% |
| Other Tissues | 25% | 25% |
Total |
100% |
100% |
The composition varies with age (lean body mass decreases with age), gender (females have higher body fat), diet and physical activity.
The normal amount of body fat for women is between 25-30%, and 18-23% for men. Women over 30% body fat and men over 25% body fat are considered obese.
| Males | Females | |
| Exceptionally Lean | 6-10% | 10-15% |
| Very Lean | 11-14% | 16-19% |
| Lean | 15-18% | 20-25% |
| Moderate | 19-24% | 26-29% |
| Obese | 25%+ | 30%+ |
Measuring Body fat mass
Under water Weighing
This is the most accurate method and used in most of the major institutions. The subject is submerged in water and asked to expel all the air out of the lungs, and the weight is recorded. The body weight is adjusted for bones and tissues to compute the body fat mass. It may be effected by the gas in the gastro-intestinal tract, the hydration of the subject. The results are accurate to 2.5% accuracy.
Skin-fold Measurements
This method is used by most of the spas. Calipers are used to measure subcutaneous fat fold around triceps, waist, thigh, and back. The body fat is computed based on measurements. The results may be accurate to 5%. Biometric
3. Bioelectrical Impedance
This method is used by upscale spas and fitness centers. A low level electric current is passed to compute the body fat depending on the electrical conductivity. Higher the amount of water in the body, higher is the conductivity. Thus the results may be inaccurate depending on the hydration status.
Computing Body fat
The United States Department of Defense, Marines, Army, Air Force use Algorithms based on the circumferences of certain parts of the body. These include, waist, forearm, wrist, neck etc.
YMCA uses a much simpler circumference formula that I have used.