What Is The Healthy Body Fat Percentage?

Our health depends on body fat because it protects our organs and keeps us warm. Body fat measurement may also be a valuable tool for assessing our general health. Here's everything you need to know about body fat % from what constitutes a healthy range to quantify it. The ideal beach physique has a body fat percentage of around 10%. It's still possible to see veins in the arms and legs at this percentage, but they're not as obvious as they are at the lower end. It's considered "lean and fit" to be at or below 15% body fat.

What is a healthy body fat percentage?

Your body fat tissue percentage about your total body mass is known as body fat percentage (BPF). While some fat is necessary for the body, having a high amount of fat puts you at risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.

"Body fat percentage is quite useful since it more properly assesses someone's health risks," explains Naomi Parrella, MD, a general care and weight management specialist at Rush University Hospital. "Even if your weight stays the same, it fluctuates throughout your life."

Excess weight and body fat can cause heart and blood vessel disorders, including aortic valve stenosis, which occurs when heart valves narrow, according to a significant 2019 research of white-British individuals.

In a large 2020 study in Zhengzhou, China, researchers discovered that the waist-to-hip ratio, BFP, and visceral fat area were all predictive of type 2 diabetes in people over 18. However, there isn't a single figure that accurately reflects your health. According to Parrella, a healthy BFP varies widely depending on your age, gender, and level of activity.