Body Fat Percentage is a better measurement than BMI (Body Mass Index)

With my previous posts about BMI:
Lee Hyori's BMI (Asian Celebrity)
American Celebrity BMI
How to Calculate your BMI (upper half of page)
Asian BMI adjustments (lower half of page)

I've also known that there are limitations to BMI. BMI may be easier to calculate because we have easy access to our height and weight. But because of the limitations and problems with BMI calculations. I think that Body Fat percentage is a better assessment of one's health risks and a better way to set goals.

The main limitations of BMI include not taking into account the weight of muscle. However, it isn't easy to find body fat percentages of celebrities. So BMI still has some usage :)

Measuring body fat isn't super easy and fluctuates with the amount of hydration. One could try to measure oneself with electrical impedance gadgets at the same time every day - that might help to minimize fluctuations in measurement. There are hand held devices or scales that can measure bodyfat these days - so it requires a bit of extra technology.

The American College of Sports Medicine divides the charts into subjects over and under 40-years old as well as fitness and health recommendations. If a person falls above these guidelines, he or she would be considered obese.

Here's some info I copied over from:
http://fitness.suite101.com/article.cfm/body_fat_percentage

Female (under 40) - 16%-28% Fitness, 20%-35% Health
Female (over 40) - 16%-33% Fitness, 20%-38% Health

Male (under 40) - 5%-15% Fitness, 8%-22% Health
Male (over 40) - 5%-18% Fitness, 8%-25% Health

Men need to maintain a body fat percentage of at least 5% for health reasons. A layer of fat surrounds all the body’s organs in order to protect them. Without this fat, the organs become susceptible to impact injuries.

Women need a body fat percentage of 15% to maintain a healthy menstrual cycle. The longer a woman is lower than 15% body fat percentage the less likely it is that she can become pregnant. The hormonal imbalances can cause psychological diseases such as anorexia and bulimia.

Fun fact:
According to Charles Poliquin, people can start seeing the upper row of abdominal muscles with a body fat percentage of 15%. To have “6-pack abs,” one must have a body fat percentage no higher than 9.8%.


Disclaimer: This website is not intended to create a physician patient relationship. There is no specific targeted medical advice here. Please see your physician in person. This disclaimer also applies to our other websites with generalized information: Plastic Surgery Modesto CA, Plastic Surgery Modesto, Cosmetic Surgery, Acupuncture Modesto, Veins Modesto, How to Choose a Plastic Surgeon, Breast Augmentation FAQ, Tummy Tuck FAQ