| Body fat is something that most people cringe at. | | | | the body. Muscle contains a lot of water, and |
| The truth is, body fat is essential for many | | | | water is a good conductor for electricity, so the |
| reasons; however, having too much body fat is | | | | current will sail through muscle until it gets to fat, |
| not good. So what is healthy? In order to figure | | | | which is not a good conductor. The machine takes |
| out healthy body fat measurements, we have to | | | | this information to calculate your body fat |
| understand the two types of fat. Essential fat is | | | | percentage. |
| the fat that everyone absolutely needs for | | | | 2) Skinfold Measurements |
| survival. This fat helps regulate your body | | | | This test is the only one that depends on a |
| temperature and helps cushion your organs. A | | | | human. A professional will use a set of calipers to |
| certain amount of storage fat is also needed for | | | | take measurements from certain sites on your |
| extra cushioning of organs. | | | | body. Some tests require three sites, while others |
| The key to maintaining a healthy body fat | | | | can require seven sites. Typical sites for |
| percentage is not having too much storage fat, | | | | measurements are usually thighs, stomach, and |
| but enough essential fat. Essential fat should be | | | | arms. The person administering the test will take |
| around 3% for men and 12% for women. The | | | | a fold of skin and fat and measure with calipers. |
| rest of the percentage is storage fat. When | | | | These measurements get plugged into a formula, |
| looking at healthy body fat percentages, age, | | | | which computes your body fat percentage. |
| along with gender, provides a guideline because as | | | | 3) Hydrostatic Weighing |
| you get older, your healthy body fat percentage | | | | Of the three tests, this one is the most accurate. |
| increases. | | | | A person sits in a tub of water on a scale and |
| Women | | | | submerges their entire body. All of the air in the |
| Ages 20-40 21-33% | | | | lungs is blown out to give the most accurate |
| Ages 41-60 23-35% | | | | reading. This test takes your underwater weight, |
| Ages 61-79 24-36% | | | | and from that number your body fat percentage |
| Men | | | | is calculated. |
| Ages 20-40 8-19% | | | | It is important to keep in mind that there are two |
| Ages 41-60 11-22% | | | | sides to the range of healthy body fat |
| Ages 61-79 13-25% | | | | percentages. It's dangerous to be over the |
| Above are healthy body fat percentages at | | | | percentage, but it's also very dangerous to be |
| every age. There are several ways to get your | | | | below your range. Women require more body fat |
| body fat measured by a professional; there are | | | | than men due to hormonal and childbearing |
| also many different home body fat tests that | | | | requirements, so falling below your range can |
| you can do yourself. Many bathroom scales are | | | | effect pregnancy. For people looking to lose some |
| now equipped with a body fat calculator. If you'd | | | | weight, it is very important that the weight you |
| like to get actual measurements, there are three | | | | lose does not put you under a healthy body fat |
| common tests that can be administered. | | | | percentage. Knowing your healthy body fat |
| 1) Bioelectrical Impedance | | | | percentage range will give you a weight loss goal |
| For this test, a low electric current is sent through | | | | that will maximize your efforts! |