How to calculate your body fat percentage — and why it matters
The numbers are fascinating. Convince her. You look very confident. But they don’t always tell the whole story. So, when it comes to body fat percentage, it is wise to consider not only approximate numbers, but also your fitness level, age, body shape, diet and overall health.
However, it is important to keep your body fat percentage in a healthy range. Having too much body fat puts you at risk of developing diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some cancers. It can also cause high blood pressure, put additional strain on your bones and joints, affect sleep, and increase your chances of mental health problems like depression.
On the other hand, having too little body fat can pose a health risk. Among other things, fat is needed to generate energy, protect organs, and support cell growth. According to American Journal of Clinical NutritionHere is a healthy percentage of body fat:
female
20-39 years = 21-33%
40-59 years old = 23-34%
60-79 years = 24-35%
men
20-39 years = 8-19%
40-59 years = 11-21%
60-79 years old = 13-24%
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
How is body fat percentage calculated?
There are many ways to find out how much body fat you have, but not all are readily available and some are expensive. The best known method is to use the skinfold calipers that have been with us for decades. Measurements are taken at several locations (often eight) on the body to determine the total percentage of body fat. Although it is a simple method, it is best used by professionals.
(stick with us), water density measurement, air displacement plethysmography, bioelectrical impedance analysis and spectroscopy, ultrasound, and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) have been developed to determine body composition. . Some of the best smart scales these days promise accurate body fat measurements. However, according to a study published in the journal nutrient Given the simplicity and reliability of the caliper method, it’s probably time to say: ‘Come back, wrinkles on the skin, everything is forgiven.’
what more can i do
To estimate your body fat percentage yourself, you can calculate your body mass index (BMI) or measure your waist circumference. BMI measurement is used by doctors, and there has been an argument that the waist circumference should be measured as one in medicine. daily life.
Body Fat Measurement: What is Body Mass Index (BMI)?
This is how we use your height and weight to find out if you are at a healthy weight. It categorizes adults into broad categories and is fairly reliable, but only provides a rough estimate of body fat and doesn’t tell you how much (if any) excess fat they have. It simply suggests a healthy weight range for a given size. National Institutes of Health BMI calculator This is easy to use. Just enter your height and weight to get the results. BMI is usually
Those under 18.5 are in the underweight category
18.5-24.9, you are on a healthy weight scale
25-29.9 You are in the overweight category
People over the age of 30 fall into the category of obesity.
How useful is BMI?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the correlation between BMI and body fat is quite strong. But it can also be misinterpreted. For example, a person with a lot of muscle mass can be classified as overweight, and an athlete has less body fat than a non-athlete with the same BMI. Measurements also don’t tell you where fat is in the body (eg fat stored in the abdomen poses a greater health risk than fat stored in the buttocks). And there is strong evidence that healthy limits vary by ethnicity. It’s also worth remembering that women tend to have more body fat than men. Although the correlation between BMI and body fat is strong (“For most people, BMI is a very good measure of body fat percentage” at Harvard School of Public Health), measuring your waist size can also be helpful. Measure yourself. Get a picture of the risks associated with your weight.
(Credit: Getty/MarsBars)
Body fat measurement: waist circumference
(Credit: Getty/Ivan Nadaski)
Waist circumference is a good measure of body fat percentage in general and belly fat in particular. Visceral fat (deep in the stomach that surrounds the intestines, such as the liver) has been linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. The other major type of belly fat is called subcutaneous fat and is found under the skin. This is wobbly fat that you can pinch with your fingers.
how to measure your waist
- Stand up and place a tape measure around the midsection just above the hip bone.
- Make sure it is level, snug, flat and does not cut into the skin.
- Exhale and measure
- Do it twice to get the right result.
that World Health Organization We recommend a waist circumference of 31.5 inches or less for women and 37 inches or less for men. Numbers vary from country to country. ethnicity. Just like your BMI, measuring your waist doesn’t show your body fat percentage. However, it is considered a predictor of morbidity and mortality. traces of life in clinical practice. A large study found that women with a waist of 37 inches had an 80% higher risk of dying than women with a waist of 27.5 inches. For men, those with a 43-inch waist were 50% more at risk than those with a 37-inch waist.
These methods are not perfect and, like other home techniques such as body fat measurement and girth measurement, can be misunderstood. Don’t forget that your body fat percentage is a measure of your overall health, just like your BMI and waist measurements. If you are concerned about high (or very low) levels, talk to your doctor or registered dietitian to get the best course of action.
Looking for more weight loss advice? Here’s how to lose weight and get in shape with walking, a beginner’s running plan that involves a 30-minute jog from nothing, and how to lose weight with a rowing machine.
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How to calculate your body fat percentage — and why it matters
Numbers are seductive. They are convincing. They seem so sure of themselves. But they do not always tell the full story, so, when it comes to your body fat percentage, it is wise to consider not just the blunt number, but also your fitness level, your age, body type, diet, and your general health.
That said, it is important to keep your body fat percentage within a healthy range. Having too much body fat can put you at risk of developing conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some cancers. It also leads to high blood pressure, places extra stress on your bones and joints, affects your sleep, and can raise the likelihood of mental health problems such as depression.
On the other hand, too little body fat can also carry health risks — we need fat for energy, to protect our organs, and to support cell growth, among other vital functions. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a healthy body fat percentage is:
Women
Age 20–39 = 21–33%
Age 40–59 = 23–34%
Age 60–79 = 24–35%
MenAge 20–39 = 8–19%
Age 40–59 = 11–21%
Age 60–79 = 13–24%
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
How can I calculate my body fat percentage?
There are many ways to learn how much body fat you have, but not all are easily accessible and some are expensive. The best known method is to use skinfold calipers, which have been with us for decades. Measurements are taken from several sites on the body (often eight) to ascertain the overall percentage of body fat. It’s a simple method but best used by a professional.
Several high-tech techniques of measurement have also been developed to measure body composition, including (stay with us), hydrodensitometry, air displacement plethysmography, bioelectrical impedance analysis and spectroscopy, ultra-sound, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Some of the best smart scales also promise to give you an accurate body fat reading these days. However, as a study published in the journal Nutrients noted, given the simplicity and reliability of the calipers method, perhaps the time has come to say, ‘Come back skinfolds, all is forgiven.’
What else can I do?
If you want to self-assess your levels of body fat, you can calculate your body mass index (BMI) and/or measure your waist circumference. BMI measurements are used by clinicians, and it has been argued that waist circumference ought to be obtained in medical practice as a matter of routine.
How to measure body fat: What is body mass index (BMI)?
This is a method that uses your height and weight to find out if you are a healthy weight. It divides adults into broad categories and is quite reliable, but it gives only a rough estimate of body fat and does not tell you how much (if any) excess fat you are carrying. It simply suggests a healthy weight range for a certain height. The National Institutes of Health has a BMI calculator that is easy to use. You just enter your height and weight to get the result. Generally speaking, if your BMI is
below 18.5, you are in the underweight category
18.5–24.9, you are in the healthy weight category
25–29.9, you are in the overweight category
above 30, you are in the obese category
How useful is BMI?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said the correlation between BMI and body fatness is fairly strong. However, it can also be misinterpreted. For example, a person with a lot of muscle may be classed as overweight and an athlete will have less body fat than a non-athlete who has the same BMI. Also, the measurement cannot assess where fat is in the body (fat stored around the belly presents a greater health risk than fat stored in the butt, for example). And there is strong evidence that healthy upper limits vary depending on ethnicity. It is also worth remembering that women tend to have more body fat than men. So, while the correlation between BMI and body fat is strong — as Harvard School of Public Health noted, ‘For most people, BMI is a very good gauge of their level of body fat.’ – it may also be useful to measure your waist circumference to get an idea of the risk, if any, associated with your weight.
(Image credit: Getty/MarsBars)
How to measure body fat: Waist circumference
(Image credit: Getty/Ivan Nadaski)
Your waist circumference is a good measure of your level of body fat in general and abdominal fat, in particular. Visceral belly fat (the stuff deep in the abdomen that surrounds your internal organs, such as your liver) has been linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. The other main kind of belly fat is called subcutaneous fat and is found under your skin. This is the jiggly fat you can pinch with your fingers.
How to measure your waist
Stand and place a tape measure around your middle, just above your hip bones
Make sure it is horizonal, snug, and flat, and not digging into your skin
Breathe out and take the measurement
Do it twice to be sure you have the right result
The World Health Organization recommends a waist circumference at or below 31.5 inches for women and at or below 37 inches for men. Bear in mind that figures vary depending on ethnicity. As with BMI, measuring your waist circumference cannot tell you your body fat percentage. However, as a predictor of morbidity and death, it is considered a vital sign in clinical practice. One major study found the risk of death for women with a 37-inch waist was 80 percent greater than it was for women with a 27.5-inch waist; among men, those with a waist circumference of 43 inches were 50 percent more at risk than those with a waist circumference of 37 inches.
These methods are not perfect and can be misunderstood, as is the case with other at-home techniques such as body fat scales and body circumference measurements. Don’t forget that your body fat percentage is only one measure of your overall health, as is your BMI and waist circumference. If you are concerned by a high (or very low) number, talk to your physician or a registered dietitian about the best way to proceed.
Looking for more weight loss advice? Here’s how to lose weight and get in shape by walking, a beginner’s running plan to take you from nothing to 30-minutes of continuous running, and how to lose weight using a rowing machine.
#calculate #body #fat #percentage #matters
How to calculate your body fat percentage — and why it matters
Numbers are seductive. They are convincing. They seem so sure of themselves. But they do not always tell the full story, so, when it comes to your body fat percentage, it is wise to consider not just the blunt number, but also your fitness level, your age, body type, diet, and your general health.
That said, it is important to keep your body fat percentage within a healthy range. Having too much body fat can put you at risk of developing conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some cancers. It also leads to high blood pressure, places extra stress on your bones and joints, affects your sleep, and can raise the likelihood of mental health problems such as depression.
On the other hand, too little body fat can also carry health risks — we need fat for energy, to protect our organs, and to support cell growth, among other vital functions. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a healthy body fat percentage is:
Women
Age 20–39 = 21–33%
Age 40–59 = 23–34%
Age 60–79 = 24–35%
MenAge 20–39 = 8–19%
Age 40–59 = 11–21%
Age 60–79 = 13–24%
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
How can I calculate my body fat percentage?
There are many ways to learn how much body fat you have, but not all are easily accessible and some are expensive. The best known method is to use skinfold calipers, which have been with us for decades. Measurements are taken from several sites on the body (often eight) to ascertain the overall percentage of body fat. It’s a simple method but best used by a professional.
Several high-tech techniques of measurement have also been developed to measure body composition, including (stay with us), hydrodensitometry, air displacement plethysmography, bioelectrical impedance analysis and spectroscopy, ultra-sound, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Some of the best smart scales also promise to give you an accurate body fat reading these days. However, as a study published in the journal Nutrients noted, given the simplicity and reliability of the calipers method, perhaps the time has come to say, ‘Come back skinfolds, all is forgiven.’
What else can I do?
If you want to self-assess your levels of body fat, you can calculate your body mass index (BMI) and/or measure your waist circumference. BMI measurements are used by clinicians, and it has been argued that waist circumference ought to be obtained in medical practice as a matter of routine.
How to measure body fat: What is body mass index (BMI)?
This is a method that uses your height and weight to find out if you are a healthy weight. It divides adults into broad categories and is quite reliable, but it gives only a rough estimate of body fat and does not tell you how much (if any) excess fat you are carrying. It simply suggests a healthy weight range for a certain height. The National Institutes of Health has a BMI calculator that is easy to use. You just enter your height and weight to get the result. Generally speaking, if your BMI is
below 18.5, you are in the underweight category
18.5–24.9, you are in the healthy weight category
25–29.9, you are in the overweight category
above 30, you are in the obese category
How useful is BMI?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said the correlation between BMI and body fatness is fairly strong. However, it can also be misinterpreted. For example, a person with a lot of muscle may be classed as overweight and an athlete will have less body fat than a non-athlete who has the same BMI. Also, the measurement cannot assess where fat is in the body (fat stored around the belly presents a greater health risk than fat stored in the butt, for example). And there is strong evidence that healthy upper limits vary depending on ethnicity. It is also worth remembering that women tend to have more body fat than men. So, while the correlation between BMI and body fat is strong — as Harvard School of Public Health noted, ‘For most people, BMI is a very good gauge of their level of body fat.’ – it may also be useful to measure your waist circumference to get an idea of the risk, if any, associated with your weight.
(Image credit: Getty/MarsBars)
How to measure body fat: Waist circumference
(Image credit: Getty/Ivan Nadaski)
Your waist circumference is a good measure of your level of body fat in general and abdominal fat, in particular. Visceral belly fat (the stuff deep in the abdomen that surrounds your internal organs, such as your liver) has been linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. The other main kind of belly fat is called subcutaneous fat and is found under your skin. This is the jiggly fat you can pinch with your fingers.
How to measure your waist
Stand and place a tape measure around your middle, just above your hip bones
Make sure it is horizonal, snug, and flat, and not digging into your skin
Breathe out and take the measurement
Do it twice to be sure you have the right result
The World Health Organization recommends a waist circumference at or below 31.5 inches for women and at or below 37 inches for men. Bear in mind that figures vary depending on ethnicity. As with BMI, measuring your waist circumference cannot tell you your body fat percentage. However, as a predictor of morbidity and death, it is considered a vital sign in clinical practice. One major study found the risk of death for women with a 37-inch waist was 80 percent greater than it was for women with a 27.5-inch waist; among men, those with a waist circumference of 43 inches were 50 percent more at risk than those with a waist circumference of 37 inches.
These methods are not perfect and can be misunderstood, as is the case with other at-home techniques such as body fat scales and body circumference measurements. Don’t forget that your body fat percentage is only one measure of your overall health, as is your BMI and waist circumference. If you are concerned by a high (or very low) number, talk to your physician or a registered dietitian about the best way to proceed.
Looking for more weight loss advice? Here’s how to lose weight and get in shape by walking, a beginner’s running plan to take you from nothing to 30-minutes of continuous running, and how to lose weight using a rowing machine.
#calculate #body #fat #percentage #matters
Synthetic: Vik News