The American Council on Exercise groups body fat into two categories: surplus fat and essential fat. Surplus fat is fat deposits in the body that are not vital to the body's function. They are made up of unused calories that have been stored by the body. Essential fat is the deposits of fat that your body requires to function. They insulate your tissues and organs. It is the combination of both the surplus fat and essential fat that makes up the total fat percentage in the body.
Body Fat in Distance Runner
Distance runners require considerable energy to compete in their sports. According to MayoClinic.com, a runner can burn 800 to 1,400 calories while running a distance of eight miles within an hour. This greatly reduces the chances of them storing surplus fat. The average percentage of body fat for distance runner is 5 percent to 8 percent for male athletes and 10 percent to 15 percent for female athletes. Having low fat percentages makes them lighter on their feet, increasing their performance.
Ideal Body Fat Percentage for Fitness
According to MedlinePlus, the recommended body fat percentage for men is 13 percent to 17 percent while that for women is 20 percent to 21 percent. Your body fat percentage should not be too high or low. Marina Mourtzakis, a professor and specialist in nutrition, exercise and metabolism at the University of Waterloo in Canada, points out that lowering your body fat content below 5 percent will affect your essential fat balance, leaving you open to potential infections or injury.
Body Fat in an Average Female
Women have higher essential fat percentages than men. As well as protecting the organs, fat is also found in the breasts and hips of women. Because of this the average U.S. woman has a higher value of roughly 22 percent to 25 percent body fat. Women with body fat measurements above 30 percent are considered obese.
Body fat in an Average Male
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the body fat percentage of an average U.S. male is 17 percent to 19 percent. Some doctors consider this to be marginally acceptable. Men with body fat values above 25 percent are considered obese and stand a higher risk of experiencing cardiovascular disorders.
References
- The Running World According to Dean; Body Fat & Runners; Dean Hebert; September 2007
- American Council on Exercise: Percent Body Fat Calculator
- Mayo Clinic; Exercise for Weight loss: Calories Burned in 1 Hour; December 2009
- Medline Plus: Weight Management
- Scientific American; Going for the Gaunt: How Low Can an Athlete's Body Fat Go?; Katie Moisse; February 2010
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