Body Fat
Recommended Body Fat Percentages
There are no established standards for recommended body
fat percentage. The table below is based on the concensus of many experts
in the health field.
|
|
|
Age Group |
|
|
|
19-24 |
25-29 |
30-34 |
34-39 |
40-44 |
45-49 |
50-59 |
60+ |
|
MALE |
Minimum |
6% |
|
|
Maximum |
14.8% |
16.5% |
18.0% |
19.4% |
20.5% |
21.5% |
22.7% |
23.5% |
|
FEMALE |
Minimum |
9% |
|
|
Maximum |
21.9% |
22.4% |
22.7% |
23.7% |
25.4% |
27.2% |
30.0% |
30.8% |
A note about the minimum percent body fat. The body requires some minimum
amount of body fat to perform certain essential functions.
- As an energy reservoir to be used in extreme physical exertion.
- For insulation protection in extremely cold or hot weather.
- For assisting the body's natural defenses against infection.
- To cushion the internal body organs.
In males, most researchers have established the minimum body fat percentage at 6%.
In females there is the extra body function associated with child rearing.
Thus, most researchers have established their minimum body fat percentage at 9%.
Male Body Fat Rating Scale
(Maximum body fat percentage to fall within the rating guidelines.)
| Age
|
RISKY
|
EXCELLENT
|
GOOD
|
FAIR
|
POOR
|
VERY POOR
|
| 19-24
|
<6%
|
10.8%
|
14.9%
|
19.0%
|
23.3%
|
>23.3%
|
| 25-29
|
<6%
|
12.8%
|
16.5%
|
20.3%
|
24.4%
|
>24.4%
|
| 30-34
|
<6%
|
14.5%
|
18.0%
|
21.5%
|
25.2%
|
>25.2%
|
| 35-39
|
<6%
|
16.1%
|
19.4%
|
22.6%
|
26.1%
|
>26.1%
|
| 40-44
|
<6%
|
17.5%
|
20.5%
|
23.6%
|
26.9%
|
>26.9%
|
| 45-49
|
<6%
|
18.6%
|
21.5%
|
24.5%
|
27.6%
|
>27.6%
|
| 50-54
|
<6%
|
19.8%
|
22.7%
|
25.6%
|
28.7%
|
>28.7%
|
| 55-59
|
<6%
|
20.2%
|
23.2%
|
26.7%
|
29.8%
|
>29.8%
|
| 60 +
|
<6%
|
20.3%
|
23.5%
|
26.7%
|
29.8%
|
>29.8%
|
Female Body Fat Rating Scale
(Maximum body fat percentage to fall within the rating guidelines.)
| Age
|
RISKY
|
EXCELLENT
|
GOOD
|
FAIR
|
POOR
|
VERY POOR
|
| 19-24
|
<9%
|
18.9%
|
22.1%
|
25.0%
|
29.6%
|
>29.6%
|
| 25-29
|
<9%
|
18.9%
|
22.0%
|
25.4%
|
29.8%
|
>29.8%
|
| 30-34
|
<9%
|
19.7%
|
22.7%
|
26.4%
|
30.5%
|
>30.5%
|
| 35-39
|
<9%
|
21.0%
|
24.0%
|
27.7%
|
31.5%
|
>31.5%
|
| 40-44
|
<9%
|
22.6%
|
25.6%
|
29.3%
|
32.8%
|
>32.8%
|
| 45-49
|
<9%
|
24.3%
|
27.3%
|
30.9%
|
34.1%
|
>34.1%
|
| 50-54
|
<9%
|
26.6%
|
29.7%
|
33.1%
|
36.2%
|
>36.2%
|
| 55-59
|
<9%
|
27.4%
|
30.7%
|
34.0%
|
37.3%
|
>37.3%
|
| 60 +
|
<9%
|
27.6%
|
31.0%
|
34.4%
|
38.0%
|
>38.0%
|