Body Fat Percentage

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Body Fat Percentage for the cycling teams

We all need some body fat to be healthy. It's vital for basic body functions like regulating body temperature, storing vitamins and cushioning joints and organs.

But too much fat can damage your health and could put you at greater risk of developing serious medical conditions. Excess body fat is known to contribute to heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes mellitus and some forms of cancer.*

Visceral Fat (Abdominal Fat) is the fat that surrounds the vital organs on the trunk / stomach area of the body. High Visceral Fat levels increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Lowering Visceral Fat levels can stabilise insulin action substantially, and reduce the risk of diabetes and other related illnesses.*²

Body fat is not always visible to the naked eye. You may have an acceptable weight and figure, but could still be carrying more body fat than you think.

Weight alone cannot distinguish between the pounds that come from body fat and those that come from lean body tissue, such as muscle and bone. By using a Tanita Body Fat / Body Composition Monitor, you can keep a regular check on your body fat levels, helping you stay within the healthy ranges.

Reducing excess body fat will help you improve your body shape and appearance. You'll feel better, look better and enjoy a better, fitter quality of life.

*(Source: National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute - Clinical Guidelines.)
*²(This is an estimate of your visceral fat mass based on your measured body size and composition)

Source: www.tanita.co.uk

 

How much body fat is healthy?

Body fat is essential to be healthy, so just as too much body fat is not good for healh, so the same is true of not enough body fat.

Scientists and health officials have calculated healthy body fat percentages for age groups as follows:

Adults

Adult Female Body Fat Percentage Ranges:

Age 30-35: underfat 0-20%, healthy 21-33%, overfat 34-39%, obese 39%+

Age: 40-55: underfat 0-23%, healthy 23-34%, overfat 34-40%, obese 49%+

Age 60-75: underfat 0-24%, healthy 24-36%, overfat 36-42%, obese 42%+

Adult Male Body Fat Percentage Ranges

Age 30-35: underfat 0-8%, healthy 8-20%, overfat 20-25%, obese 25%+

Age: 40-55: underfat 0-11%, healthy 11-22%, overfat 22-28%, obese 28%+

Age 60-75: underfat 0-13%, healthy 13-25%, overfat 25-30%, obese 30%+