There are many ways that would enable you to measure fat content in the body (the percentage of body fat) for both women and men. Sadly, most of the measurements are either not accurate or falls heavily on the pocket. The end result would be that you will end up with different percentage each time you get your body fat measured!
No human would have the same fat content in the body, and the important fact is that it keeps changing as we age. For example, at the age of 25, the fat content can be 15%; at 40, it can either go up or go down; same could be the case at 60. This also shows that to maintain 15% body fat throughout life would take lots of hard work!
There is another fact you should know here—women have more fat content compared to men—if it is 15% for women, it is 6.5% for men.
Percentage of Fat Content in Women
Women tend to land up with more fat content in comparison with men—that is how the anatomy works. But of course, the fat content can be reduced.
Let us check the percentages mentioned below and take a tentative guess to which category you possibly belong.
41% and above
Women with such high and alarming fat content fall under obese category, that is, morbid or extreme obesity—an extremely dangerous physical situation where the affected women need to go for consultations and counseling ASAP.
36% to 40%
At this range, the waistline goes well over 32” and the circumference of the hips measure more than 40”. Even neck and face grows to a round shape. It is a common phenomenon that happens to many women. Try riding the reduce-fat-content wagon now.
30% to 35%
Not being muscular (muscles cannot be seen), certain body parts—breasts, stomach, hips and lower down—tend to go round with pronounced curves. Either take necessary steps to cut down fat content or simply proceed to 36% to 40% range. The choice is yours.
27% to 29%
With fat starting to accumulate in bits and pieces in your body—mainly bums, legs, breasts and stomach—you can still maintain your muscle mass if you do workouts on a regular basis and maintain a healthy balanced diet and lifestyle. No way can you let fat to accumulate! Get up and act!
24% to 26%
You can still show off your buttocks, thigh and hip curves provided you don’t add extra fat. You need to maintain the “looking slim” image.
21% to 23%
Considered a “fit” range, you will have curvy buttocks and legs. The abs area could be defined but without the 6-pack! You need to maintain this and not move ahead to the 24% to 26% range.
18% to 20%
At this range, you can see abs muscles clearly but not the 6-pack! Retaining curves on the bums, thighs and hips, little fat can be seen accumulating on these places. The body will showcase an “athletic” look, no doubt. Well, there are women who love to maintain this percentage, and are extremely cautious not to cross the line!
15% to 17%
A dream body that every woman would like to possess (with 6-pack abs!), women in this range have healthy balanced diet and excellent fitness level. Only through consistent hard work and dedication can you achieve this percentage. The body, especially the lower part, looks rather muscular than round.
10% to 12%
With such low percentage of fat content, many women face health problems that are more gynecological in nature. Even the veins seem to protrude, not giving a “healthy and fit” look. There are women who prefer to be in this range. I will personally not recommend it to any woman who wants to lose fat and get a “fit” look.
As an obese woman, you target should always be fat loss, and not weight loss. I have come across many women who have had successful weight loss with little or no fat loss. Would you want this to happen to you? You can then well imagine how you would look with lower weight but fat-full body!
Percentage of Fat Content in Men
There are many obese men who need to reduce their fat content. How? I will come to that later. Let us check the percentages mentioned below and take a tentative guess to which category you possibly belong.
31% to 40%
Men with such high and alarming fat content fall under obese category, that is, morbid or extreme obesity—an extremely dangerous physical situation where the affected men need to go for consultations and counseling NOW!
25% to 30%
Considered an “obese” range for men, they start going rotund without any visible definition of muscles. If not controlled in time, they start walking the path and joining the range of 31% to 40%. Of course there are exception—some men in this range do not look round as they are very huge and muscular!
20% to 24%
In this range, muscles start becoming invisible and belly fat increases. Men start going out of range, but when dressed up well, they may not look fat even with heavy fat accumulation around the belly. Men, on an average, fall in this range of fat content.
16% to 19%
With love handles being prominent and belly fat starting to hang out, men in this range may not look fat because one can still see muscles on the body.
13% to 15%
Forget 6 pack abs here—hardly there would be any well-defined abs. Even muscles won’t be prominent. Men in this range may look lean.
11% to 12%
Not a wanted range in men even though oil massages might help in highlighting the abs and the muscles.
8% to 10%
An excellent target range to be in, many men prefers this “smooth and healthy” but not so-muscular look, though the abs muscles can be seen.
5% to 7%
A dream body that every man would like to possess (with 6-pack abs!), men in this range have healthy balanced diet and excellent fitness level. Only through consistent hard work and dedication can you achieve this percentage. The body, especially the lower part, looks rather muscular than round.
1% to 4%
With such low percentage of fat content, many men face health problems. Even the veins seem to protrude, not giving a “healthy and fit” look. There are men who prefer to be in this range. I will personally not recommend it to any man who wants to lose fat and get a “fit” look.
As an obese man, you target should always be fat loss, and not weight loss. I have come across many men who have had successful weight loss with little or no fat loss. Would you want this to happen to you? You can then well imagine how you would look with lower weight but fat-full body!
I hope I have been able to clearly explain to you, in brief, the “percentage of fat content” in the body, women or men.
Why in brief?
Because I have earlier told you that my intention here is not to give you classroom medical lectures; my explanations are mainly targeted at making you aware of the situation you are in as an obese person and what you could do about it.
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