​HOLISTIC FITNESS

Weight Management. Body Sculpting. Mindfulness Practice

                                                                                        By Ruth Henao. Fitness Coach                     

Note;  Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography (CT) scans provide the most precise body composition measurements. However, they are expensive methods. Various other types of body fat analyzers are available to the general public, like the Bio-electrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) and Skin Calipers. 

These ranges are based on the relationship between body weight, disease, and death.

People who are overweight and have high levels of obesity are at increased risk for heart and coronary disease, dyslipidemia, Type2diabetes, gallbladder disease, hypertension, osteoarthritis, apnea, stroke, and at least 10 types of cancer, including of endometrium, breast cancer and colon cancer.

Source: World Health Organization (WHO).

BODY FAT PERCENTAGE (BF%)

The Body Fat Percentage (BF%) is a measure of fitness level that directly calculates a person's body composition without regard to height or weight.

This percentage includes essential body fat and storage body fat.

Essential fat is the necessary fat to maintain life and reproductive functions. Storage body fat is the accumulated fat in the adipose tissue.  Part of which protects internal organs in the chest and abdomen. 

The percentage of essential body fat for women is greater than that for men (3–5% in men, and 8–12% in women).  ​

Different fitness authorities have consequently developed different recommendations for ideal body fat percentages. Make sure to check yours on the tables below.​