BODY FAT: WHAT IS THE IDEAL PERCENTAGE FOR WOMEN AND MEN?
You can know the ideal percentage of fat for both sexes according to the formula to be developed, and there are different authors who have offered results according to their research, however, the differences are not very significant in regard to the final results for the fat proportion in men and women. Here are different classifications according to different authors and consensuses:
Tables to rank fat percentage in men and women
The following table gives information on the results of Jackson–Pollock equations, which apply to the Jackson – Pollock 4 and Jackson – Pollock 7 formula. These values do not require age differentiation as Jackson – Pollock formulas already integrate the value of age into their equations. You can check the formulas to calculate the percentage of body fat of Jackson - Pollock and others Here
|
Men |
|
Women |
||||
|
Classification |
From (%) |
To (%) |
|
Classification |
From (%) |
To (%) |
|
Very Thin |
0.0% |
4.4% |
|
Very Thin |
0.0% |
12.2% |
|
Thin |
4.5% |
12.3% |
|
Thin |
12.3% |
19.2% |
|
Normal |
12.4% |
23.1% |
|
Normal |
19.3% |
28.9% |
|
Overweight |
23.2% |
30.9% |
|
Overweight |
29.0% |
35.9% |
|
Obesity |
31.0% |
+ |
|
Obesity |
36.0% |
+ |
Considering that there are some equations that calculate only body density (DC), to find the percentage of body fat is necessary to complement by performing the SIRI or Brozek formulas, the results of which can be classified according to the values proposed by SEEDO(Sociedad Española para el Estudio de la Obesidad) in the following table:
|
Age in years |
Women % |
Men % |
|
15 – 20 |
18 – 22 |
15 – 18 |
|
21 – 25 |
21 – 23 |
16 – 20 |
|
26 – 30 |
22 – 24 |
19 – 21 |
|
31 – 35 |
24 – 26 |
20 – 21 |
|
36 – 45 |
25 – 27 |
21 – 23 |
|
46 – 50 |
28 – 30 |
22 – 23 |
|
51 – 60 |
29 – 31 |
23 – 24 |
|
> 60 |
29 – 31 |
24 – 25 |
According to Lohman the following classification ranges are observed for the percentage of bodyfat:
|
Sex |
Very Low |
Low High |
Optimal |
Moderate |
High |
Very High |
|
Men |
> 6% |
6 - 12% |
12 - 20% |
20 - 25% |
25 - 32% |
> 32% |
|
Women |
> 12% |
12 - 15% |
15 - 25% |
25 - 30% |
30 - 35% |
>35.5% |
Lohman TG. Advances in body composition assessment. Champaing: Human Kinetics Publishers; 1992. P. 1-5, 25-37, 65-78.