an average healthy female has what percentage body fat
Women are believed to have more essential body fat than men because of childbearing and hormonal functions. In general, the total body fat percentage (essential plus storage fat) is between 12% and 15% for young men and between 25% and 28% for young women {Lohman, 1993 #4151} (see also table 13.1). Average percentages body fat for the general population and for various athletes are presented in table 13.2. Some experts tout BMI, or body mass index, as the most accurate way to determine the effect of weight on your health. In fact, most recent medical research uses BMI as an indicator of someone's health status and disease risk. Underweight Less than 18.5. Recommended 18.6 to 24.9. Fat percentages just don't have enough research behind them yet to tell you how much risk of disease you face.. You're probably familiar with body mass index. BMI is an equation that gives you a numerical rating of your health based on height and weight. Women generally have a higher body fat percentage than men because it is necessary for childbearing and estrogen production. Younger women between age 20 and 40 require between 21 and 33 percent body fat, while women age 40 and over require 23 to 36 percent body fat. The healthy range for men between 20 and 40 ranges between 8 and 19 percent body fat, while the normal range for men over age 40 is between 11 and 25 percent. Obesity is considered to be a body fat percentage of more than 30 percent. For women ages 19 to 29, anything under 19 percent is considered low. Women ages 30 to 39 should be under 21 percent, while women in their 40s should be under 24 percent to be classified as low body fat. Women 50 years old and older who are less than 28 percent body fat are included in the low body fat category. The normal body fat for some athletes is typically lower than the ideal fat percentage in a nonathletic person. For example, professional runners usually have body fat between 4 and 10 percent in men and 7 to 13 percent in women, because excess fat may affect the athlete’s performance. Go Premium. Body Fat Calculator. Determine your body fat percentage with our body fat calculator. Use a tape measure to determine your waist, hip and neck circumference. Then input your gender and measurements below to receive a body fat index based on average values. Most women who exercise regularly and are in good condition are included in the healthy body fat range. Women ages 19 to 29 whose body fat is between 19 to 22 percent are included in the healthy range. Also included are women ages 30 to 39 with body fat between 20 to 24 percent. Women in their 40s with body fat between 23 percent and 27 percent, and women 50 and older with body fat from 27 to 31 percent are well within the healthy range of body fat. Basically, what is not fat is lean). Desired body fat percentage = your goal body fat percentage (in decimal form). For example, Angela weighs 120lbs and has 25% body fat (30lbs fat, 90lbs lean). Her goal is to have 20% body fat. How much weight will she need to lose (assuming all of the weight loss comes from fat)? Desired body weight = 90/(1-.20) = 113lbs.
Between 19 to 22 percent.