If you want to get an estimate of your body fat percentage -- or the ratio of fat to other tissue in your body -- there is a variety of methods to choose from. Although some body fat measurement methods are more accurate than others, there is no...
Body fat measurement typically refers to the percentage of your body weight that comes from fat and is also known as your body fat percentage. It is generally a more useful measure of fitness than your total weight, since you may gain muscle...
According to American College of Sports Medicine's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, it is well established that excess body fat is associated with hypertension, type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Thus, it is key to know your body...
Body fat is usually measured as a percentage of your total body composition. It may be a more important measurement than weight alone, as people can appear thin, yet be too fat. The ideal body fat percentage for women between 30 and 50 years is 15...
Bioelectrical impedance analysis, or BIA, is a procedure that estimates your fat levels with a specialized device that monitors a weak electrical signal sent through your body. Typically, doctors use BIA in combination with other body fat...
Body fat percentage is the amount of fat versus the amount of muscle, bone and organ tissue in the body. There are two types of body fat, essential and storage. Essential body fat is the minimum amount of fat a person needs to survive, and...
Obesity continues to rise, according to the Weight-control Information Network, and 68 percent of Americans are considered obese or overweight. Having excessive amounts of body fat puts you at greater risk for health concerns. Finding your body...
Measuring body composition or “body fat percentage” estimates the proportion of fat to fat-free mass--muscles, bones, etc.—in a person’s body. The recommended body fat level for men is lower than that of...
Carrying too much body fat raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer. Having too little body fat is also unhealthy and can lead to serious medical complications. There is a range of percent body fat that everyone should...
According to body mass index (ratio of height to weight), a muscular athlete may register as obese, while a lighter person could fall within the recommended range and still be “overfat.” Body composition testing gives a more accurate...
Having too much body fat is associated with increased health issues. The location of that body fat might indicate what kind of health problems might be on your horizon. According to the American Heart Association, upper-body fat that accumulates...
With Americans growing fatter, many people are concerned about their body fat percentage. Body fat percentage can indicate whether someone is at risk for health problems such as heart disease, diabetes or cancer. A number of fat measurement tools...
Your body fat measurement is the percentage of your body weight that comes from fat. It's a better measure of fitness than just body weight because you tend to gain muscle when your fitness improves. You can estimate your body fat with a few...
Having a high percentage of body fat increases your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer. Excess fat that is located in the abdominal or waist area raises the risk even higher than excess fat in other areas of the...
Body fat, or body-fat percentage, measurements are used to determine what portion of your overall weight is made up of fat. Body-fat percentage is a more accurate way to tell if someone is overweight and a better gauge for monitoring and planning...
The percentage of your body weight that’s due to fat is a common method of charting your progress in a fitness program. Body fat percentage is a more significant indicator of fitness than your total body weight. You can gain muscle and lose...
Knowing your body fat percentage is a way to measure your fitness level and health risks. Obesity puts you at a greater risk for developing heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and stroke. A male with a body fat percentage of over 25 percent is...
Your body composition is made essentially of two components: The first is fat-free mass, and the second is fat mass. Fat free mass is composed of water, mineral and protein. Fat mass is exactly that, the amount of fat that is deposited throughout...
The amount of body fat you have can be an accurate measure of your physical fitness. You typically express body fat as a percentage of your total body weight, rather than the actual weight of your body fat. You can calculate your body fat at home...
Stepping on a scale may be the most popular way to judge health, but it may not tell the whole story. While a scale only tells you your total weight, measuring your body composition with skinfold calipers helps you estimate how much of your total...
The human body contains multiple types of tissue, such as skin, bones, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, muscles and fluids. All of this mass combined is known as lean body mass. The word "lean" means without the presence of fat. Once you take all of...
Excess body fat can lead to more serious complications than just a larger pants size -- it can also contribute to hazardous health conditions such as heart disease and insulin resistance. This makes it extremely important to understand how to...
Skinfold measurement, also called anthropometric measurement, is considered one of the most accurate methods of estimating body fat. It is ideal because it’s minimally invasive and relatively inexpensive. The skinfold measurement is a...
As your body fat increases, your risk for developing osteoporosis decreases. In fact, a risk factor for developing osteoporosis is being of a small build. For women, the average body fat percentage falls between 25 and 31 percent. You are...
People often measure their fitness progress on the scale, but that isn't always the most reliable indicator. Your body weight consists of your organs, bones, muscle tissue, water, waste and fat. Knowing what percentage of your body weight is made...
Body fat percentage is a common method of measuring body composition and can be an informative measure of progress when working towards weight loss. Using the scale alone is not always the most accurate because it does not distinguish between fat...
Your bathroom scale tells you how much you weigh, but it fails to offer any pertinent information about your overall body composition. Thinness, for example, refers to a low number on the scale. In contrast, leanness refers to a low body fat...
When people consume more calories than they need in a day, fat is stored in the adipose tissue of the body, which can lead to health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney stones, respiratory problems, gout, complications...
Your body fat measurement is the percentage of your body weight that's due to fat rather than the actual amount of fat you have. Body fat percentage is a common method of evaluating your physical fitness as you progress through a fitness program....
Getting energy from your foods is an important part of choosing a diet that fits your activity level. Try these tips for buying energy foods in this healthy shopping video.
