LEVELS OF BODY FAT
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Average body fat percentages vary between men and women, as well as between different age groups.
Body Fat Rating Scale |
Women |
Men |
Essential Fat |
10 - 13% |
2 - 5 % |
Lean (Athlete) |
14 – 20% |
6 – 13% |
Average (Fitness) |
21 – 24 % |
14 – 17% |
Acceptable |
25 – 31% |
18 – 25% |
Obese |
≥32% |
≥26% |
Typical average body fat for athletes |
Women |
Men |
Triathlon |
10 – 15% |
5 – 12% |
Swimmers |
10 – 16% |
6 – 12% |
Marathon Runners |
10 – 16% |
5 – 10% |
Olympic Gymnasts |
11 – 14% |
5 – 8% |
Sprinters |
12 – 18% |
5 – 12% |
Tennis Players |
14 – 20% |
10 – 16% |
Volleyball |
16 – 25% |
11 – 14% |
Body fat is stored in fat cells. Everyone is born with a specific number of fat cells. This number does not change. Of course there are exceptions to every rule and there are two instances during which there is change:
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During puberty when the number of fat cells increase.
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If someone becomes extremely obese (> 60% body fat/ > than 170% normal body weight), fat cells would have reached their limit in terms of size and hence more fat cells are produced to accommodate the extra fat required for storage.