Body Fat Percentage Chart
|
| Classification | Men (Body Fat %) | Women (Body Fat %) |
| Essential | 2 - 4 | 10 - 12 |
| Athletes | 6 - 13 | 14 - 20 |
| Fitness | 14 - 17 | 21 - 24 |
| Acceptable | 18 - 25 | 25 - 31 |
| Obese | > 25 | > 31 |
The body fat chart above shows essential body fat
ranges all the way up to obese body fat ranges. You can download the
file below to calculate your body fat using two different methods. You
can then compare to this chart above.
The above link is a direct link to a zip file. You will need to unzip
the file using Win Zip or other unzip program. The file is in Microsoft
Excel format, so you can view it and use the chart with Excel or the free
Open Office program.
You will find that the Body Fat Percentage Chart you just downloaded
has 30 rows available for measurements. You can simply copy and paste
the formulas if you need more room.
The chart includes two different methods of body fat measurements. The
general method uses your waist measurement to give a general body fat
percentage. The other method uses 3 skin fold measurements using a body
fat caliper to calculate your body fat.
Ensure you enter your age and body weight. Enter your waist measurement
and your skinfold measurements if you have them.
| Body
fat calculations and measurements are not perfect and can vary greatly
between different people taking the measurements. The accuracy of the calculation may even be off by plus or minus 4 percentage points or more! For example, one person measuring a weight lifter may get 12 mm for a skinfold. Another person measuring that same weight lifter might get 16 mm for a skinfold measurement. |
The important
thing to realize is that is doesn't matter which method you use to
measure body fat!
You need to choose your method of measuring
body fat and stick with it! Don't worry about the exact percentages.
Just ensure that you are always improving!
For example, if you choose a method of skin fold measurements, just
focus on those measurements getting smaller. If you use your waist
measurement as the method, focus on your waist getting smaller.
Usually, if your waist measurement is decreasing, you are losing body
fat!
