Many people wonder what their body fat says about their health and fitness. This body fat chart can help you determine whether your body composition falls within a healthy range.
Body Composition
Body composition is the ratio of body fat to lean body mass. Typically, body composition is expressed as a percentage of body fat. Having a healthy body composition is one of the components of physical fitness, and it may also provide protective benefits against certain diseases like type 2 diabetes.
Factors Affecting Ideal Body Composition
Ideal body composition ranges differ between men and women. Likewise, as you age your ideal body composition will creep up by a percentage point or two.
Body Fat Chart
This chart provides the information you need to determine the ideal body fat range for your age and sex. The figures and ranges were taken from a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. To use the chart:
- Determine your body fat percentage.
- Determine which range you fall into for body fat percentage for your age and sex.
If you need help downloading the chart, check out these helpful tips.
What Your Results Mean
Your body needs some fat to function. Being too lean can interfere with healthy bodily function, just as being overfat or obese can.
While the chart indicates a healthy range of body fat, it also shows ranges for underfat, overfat, and obese. This chart is not intended as a substitute for a physician's advice and supervision. If your body composition falls outside of ideal ranges, please talk to your doctor about what this may mean for your health.
Knowledge Is Power
This body fat chart is intended to provide you with information you can use to get a better overall picture of your health. By knowing your body composition, you can set goals and take steps to be in your best health.
