The Average Belly Fat

The determination of the average amount of belly fat is not the best measurement of health. As of 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that only Colorado and the District of Columbia had an obesity rate of less than 20 percent. That means the majority of people in the U.S. are overweight, and the average for belly fat is higher. Tests to determine proper body weight, such as the body mass index and body composition, will be be better indicators for health than determining the average belly fat.

Body Mass Index

The BMI is a measure of the ratio of height to weight. The corresponding ratio is given a number value. For instance, for a person who is 72 inches tall and weighs 177 lbs., the BMI value is 24. Anything under 18.4 is considered underweight and anything over 25 is considered overweight. Anything over 30 is considered obese. The higher the BMI value, the higher the risk of health issues arising.
The BMI indicator is a good overall indication of proper weight, but is not perfect. For instance, if someone is a body-builder, they might have an fairly high BMI because muscle is denser than fat. For this reason, BMI is often combined with waist measurement for more accurate results.

Waist Measurment

To measure your waist, wrap a tape measure around it just above the hip bone. The tape should cross over the navel and should be parallel to the ground. The tape should be snug, but not tight enough that it squeezes skin. Take the measurement after exhaling, but don't suck in your belly. For men, a waist measurement of more than 40 inches leads to increased risk of disease, and for women anything over 35 inches is cause for concern.

Body Composition

Different people store fat in different areas of the body. This has a lot to do with gender and genetics. The main concern with regard to belly fat is the ratio of waist measurement to hip measurement. The hip measurement is taken by wrapping a tape measure around the widest area of the buttocks. According to the University of Maryland Medical System, research has shown that people with apple-shaped bodies ---those with more weight around the waist--- have more health risks than those with pear-shaped bodies who carry more weight around the hips.

Health Risks

Belly fat is not just a concern of appearance or expanded waistline. According to MayoClinic.com, those who have excessive fat around the abdomen are at risk for heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, colorectal cancer and others diseases. It is not just a matter of the fat you can see either. The visceral fat -- the fat deeper in the body that surrounds the organs -- causes the most problems. Those fat cells are actively producing hormones and other chemicals that affect health.

Solution

Areas of fat cannot be targeted specifically for weight loss. In order to lose fat from your belly, start an overall weight-loss program. How much you lose from your belly depends a lot on genetics and body type. Consult with a doctor to determine the best weight-loss program for you. They will be able to monitor your health and progress. It's also important to remember, just because it is average, does not mean it's healthy. 25 is an average BMI measure, but it is still out of the healthy range.