Body Fat Information: Not All Pounds Are the Same

 We generally think of losing weight as a good thing, but just because the scale is lowering does not mean a person is losing fat. Loss of lean muscle is very common, especially with the fad diets out there. That is why weight alone is not a clear indication of health status. Carrying too much fat can lead to obesity which puts a person at risk for leading chronic diseases such as stroke, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and arteriosclerosis.  ........

How Fat Should I Be?

Medical and health professionals have determined that a healthy percentage of fat is 14% to 20% for men and 17% to 24% for women.

Women tend to store fat in the breasts, abdomen, hips and buttocks, while men accumulate fat in the abdomen, chest, and buttocks.

Fat, in general, is found in several places throughout the body. The majority of fat is stored under the skin, and is known as subcutaneous tissue. The thickness of the subcutaneous fat varies from body area to body area. It tends to be thickest at the waist, and is practically non-existent at the eyelids. As well as being a store of energy, fat also acts as a cushion to impacts. Therefore, some fat in our diet is necessary.

Appearances Can Be Deceiving

Just because someone looks thin does not mean they have a healthy amount of body fat.

In the Image above, Men A, B, and C, are all the same height. Men A and B weigh the same. Man C weighs considerably more. For his height C appears to be fat. But after measuring their body fat percentages it turns out that B and C have appropriate levels, while A has the above recommended range and is at a higher health risk. Percentage of body fat, rather than weight itself, is a much more accurate indicator of health status.

What is My Percentage?

There are a few ways to get your body fat measured accurately. Unfortunately they are not very accessible to the average person. There are machines on the market that work like scales that measure body fat. They are not terribly accurate but can offer some guidance. They best way to get measured is to participate in a water or air displacement test. You are either submerged in water or put in a pod-like structure that can determine, fairly accurately, your body fat percentage. These are offered at some health and weight loss specialty clinics or gyms.

It is important to understand what your body fat percentage is. If it is not in a healthy range, then focus on increasing muscle mass through a basic strength training regime and lowering body fat through daily cardiovascular exercise like walking, jogging, swimming or biking.