Friday
Feb202009
What's Considered a Healthy or Optimal Body Fat Percentage?
Posted on 
February 20, 2009 by Stephen Cooper
February 20, 2009 by Stephen Cooper I'll say right at the outset of this, I don't rely a lot on body fat percentage. I admit that it is a helpful way to measure in before and after situations, but it only one tool.
Anytime I train a client I encourage him or her to not obsess over numbers.
Having said that, I think that we all know how important it is to be at a healthy body weight.
Here is a body fat chart according to the American Council on Exercise.
MALE
| Age | RISKY | EXCELLENT | GOOD | FAIR | POOR | VERY POOR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19-24 | <6% | 10.8% | 14.9% | 19.0% | 23.3% | >23.3% |
| 25-29 | 12.8% | 16.5% | 20.3% | 24.4% | ||
| 30-34 | 14.5% | 18.0% | 21.5% | 25.2% | ||
| 35-39 | 16.1% | 19.4% | 22.6% | 26.1% | ||
| 40-44 | 17.5% | 20.5% | 23.6% | 26.9% | ||
| 45-49 | 18.6% | 21.5% | 24.5% | 27.6% | ||
| 50-54 | 19.8% | 22.7% | 25.6% | 28.7% | ||
| 55-59 | 20.2% | 23.2% | 26.2% | 29.3% | ||
| 60+ | 20.3% | 23.5% | 26.7% | 29.8% |
FEMALE
| Age | RISKY | EXCELLENT | GOOD | FAIR | POOR | VERY POOR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19-24 | <9% | 18.9% | 22.1% | 25.0% | 29.6% | >29.6% |
| 25-29 | 18.9% | 22.0% | 25.4% | 29.8% | ||
| 30-34 | 19.7% | 22.7% | 26.4% | 30.5% | ||
| 35-39 | 21.0% | 24.0% | 27.7% | 31.5% | ||
| 40-44 | 22.6% | 25.6% | 29.3% | 32.8% | ||
| 45-49 | 24.3% | 27.3% | 30.9% | 34.1% | ||
| 50-54 | 26.6% | 29.7% | 33.1% | 36.2% | ||
| 55-59 | 27.4% | 30.7% | 34.0% | 37.3% | ||
| 60+ | 27.6% | 31.0% | 34.4% | 38.0% |
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