How much body fat is obese

Some charts will divide the percentages by categories, such as athletes and acceptable ranges, while others divide the ranges by age. For ideal body fat percentages based on age, Beth Israel Lahey Health Winchester Hospital gives the following guidelines for a healthy body fat percentage for women:. In general, men have a lower body fat to lean tissue ratio than women, which explains the differences in the ranges.

Reproduction plays a role in the higher body fat percentages for women. For ideal body fat percentages based on age, Beth Israel Lahey Health Winchester Hospital gives the following guidelines for a healthy body fat percentage for men:. BMI is a numerical value of your weight in relation to your height, according to the American Heart Association.

There are several BMI calculators online. If you think of BMI and body fat measurements as one tool you have available to help you track your progress, you may be less likely to get fixated on the results.

In other words, rather than being driven by reducing a particular number, you can be motivated to enhance your health by fueling your body with nourishing foods and taking steps to include some form of exercise into your daily routine. Having this mindset can make it easier to understand and accept the issues and limitations that come with BMI and body fat percentages. For example, a muscular athlete may have a higher BMI because of extra lean mass and, consequently, could be categorized as overweight or obese.

Whereas someone with a lower weight and a much higher body fat to lean mass ratio could fall under the normal to healthy range. Body fat percentages, on the other hand, also have issues and limitations. Eating healthy and being active is where you need to focus your energy. If you have any questions or concerns about your BMI or body fat percentage, consider talking with your doctor, a certified personal trainer, or registered dietitian. They can help you understand your individual results and work with you to design a plan that fits your needs.

There are several ways to find a certified personal trainer or registered dietitian in your area. First, call around to the local gyms and ask about the credentials of their trainers.

You want to look for trainers with certifications such as:. Bonus if they have a college degree in exercise science, kinesiology, or sports medicine. You can also locate trainers through the websites of the certifying bodies. For example, ACE has a section on their website that allows you to search for trainers in your area.

There are several ways you can find out your percentage of body fat. If you have ever had your body composition tested at a gym or by a dietitian, it may have been tested with calipers. Calipers are small clamp-like devices that determine the amount of fat you have lying just below the skin by taking skinfold measurements at various locations on your body, such as the back of your arm and your waistline. Health professionals use these skinfold measurements in equations that estimate body fat.

Calipers are widely used because they are inexpensive and easy to use, but they are less accurate than other methods. Other ways of measuring body fat include:. So, what should your body fat percentage be? A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the following information based on your sex and age:. As you can see, women naturally have a higher body fat to lean tissue ratio than men, and body fat naturally increases with age. When it comes to losing weight, the key is to eat fewer calories than you expend.

If you do this, AND exercise, you will lose body fat. Your body was designed to store fat so it would have reserves of energy during famine. When you take in fewer calories than you expend, during exercise and rest, your body burns these fat reserves. Be sensible, however—if you eat too few calories or cut out all carbohydrates, the weight you lose will likely be fluids and muscle, not fat.

In this case the scale will go down, but your body fat percentage will go up, rendering you less healthy. About adult BMI.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Updated May 15, Accessed October 26, BMI calculator. Calorie Control Council website. Body composition. Georgia State University website. Accessed on October 26, Diets for weight loss. Updated August 22, Healthy percentage body fat ranges: guidelines based on body fat index.

Am J Clin Nutr. Stay away from fad diets. Eat Right—Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website. Updated December Exceptional Nurses Winchester Hospital was the first community hospital in the state to achieve Magnet designation, recognition for nursing excellence. Supporting Our Community Our tremendous staff gives back to our community by coordinating free health screenings, educational programs, and food drives.

What Our Patients are Saying A leading indicator of our success is the feedback we get from our patients. There are more ways to measure a person's fitness than just stepping on a scale. Body mass index BMI and body fat are both measurements used to determine a person's level of personal fitness and gauge their risk for conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

But what are the differences between these two measurements? Let's take a look. BMI is used to assess risk for diseases, especially heart disease and diabetes. As BMI increases, so does the risk of developing these and other weight-related diseases, including stroke and some cancers.