Recall that body fat percentage is a measure of total fat mass divided by total body weight, not a measure of total fat mass on its own. Lowering Body Fat Percentage Without Losing Fat Mass A body fat percentage greater than 30% tends to be excessive for an individual's needs. An average body fat percentage is in the low-mid '20s (males) and mid-high '20s (females). 15-18% for females v 9-12% for men).Īt the other end of the chart, body fat percentages to be classed overweight and then obese are reasonably similar between both genders. For this reason, women will see the abdominal muscles at a higher body fat percentage than men will (ie. This is somewhat due to internal fat around reproductive organs. A Healthy Body Fat Percentageįemales have greater essential body requirements than men, as demonstrated in the chart below.
However, the accuracy and consistency of measurement, and the inability to assess internal body fat, see other techniques prioritised over callipers. Bioelectric impedance (BIA) and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) are two measurements that are practical, non-invasive, accurate and reliable.Ĭallipers can be used to measure skinfolds at key sites, which can then be extrapolated to estimate body fat percentage. Measuring total body mass (body weight) is simple, but measuring body fat mass is more complicated and requires equipment. However, the availability of non-intrusive body methods of assessing body fat such as bioelectrical impedance assessment (BIA) and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) has made this more accessible. Previously, body fat mass was hard to measure, which lead to a reliance on BMI. Measuring body fat percentage in addition to BMI is the best way to assess someone's body composition. Despite a healthy body fat percentage, my BMI is 27 which put me in the overweight category. As a result, people with large amounts of muscle mass or of shorter height can fall into the overweight/obesity category, despite being of healthy body fat percentages.Įxample: I am a 186cm, 94kg male, and around 10-12% body fat (measured via BIA). BMI relies only on height and weight and it cannot take into account the composition of the body. When comparing people to norms or other individuals, a relative measurement is required.Ĭalculation: (Total fat mass (kg)/Total body mass (kg)) x 100 = BF%Įxample: a 100kg male with 20kg of body fat mass has a 20% body fat.īody fat percentage is useful for assessing body composition and covers some of the limitations of Body Mass Index (BMI). Body fat percentage (BFP/BF%/PBF) is the proportion of a body's fat mass in relation to total body mass. The percentage of body fat is useful for quantifying a person's body fat mass relative to their size and requirements.Ĭonsider that a 100kg male is going to have more fat mass than a 60kg male, even if both have the same body fat percentage.
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