Body Composition

What is it? varies for men and women. For men, the ideal percentage of body fat is between refers to the 12 and 18%. Over 25% body fat for men constituents of your body - lean mass, fat is considered obese. For women, the mass, and water. ideal percentage of body fat is between 16 and 25%, with over 30% being Scales weigh total body mass. What the considered obese. scale does not tell you is whether that weight is fat, lean (which includes bone, ligaments, and muscle) or water. Your Measuring Composition body composition is more important than Underwater weighing, available at some your weight in determining fitness and fitness centers, hospitals, and clinics, is health. considered the most accurate measurement tool. Since fat tissue is Too High or Too Low? more buoyant than lean tissue, an over- fat person will actually weigh less Excess fat may be partly genetic, but underwater than will a leaner person. mostly results from poor and Underwater weighing is unrealistic for nutritional habits. If your percentage of the average person because of fat is excessive you may want to make convenience and expense. some lifestyle changes. raises one’s risk of getting heart disease, high Another tool for measuring body fat is a blood pressure, , and cancer. skin-fold caliper, which measures the fat Excess fat weight stresses the cardio- below the skin’s surface. Although it is vascular system and reduces the body’s less accurate than underwater weighing, ability to work efficiently. for most people it is more convenient. Skin-fold tests are free to students Some elite athletes have body fat enrolled at UW-Stevens Point. If you percentages as low as 5% for men and 8% are interested in obtaining a skin-fold for women, but this, of course, is the body fat assessment contact the Lifestyle exception and extremely low body fat Assistant Office in 101 Delzell Hall. can be very risky. In females, low body fat percent can alter hormone levels, stopping menstrual periods and causing Maintenance osteoporosis. In extreme cases organ For optimum health and fitness, it pays failure, and even death can occur. to maintain your body composition within the recommended norms. Regular All of us require stored body fat for exercise and a nutritional go hand- fueling energy- if the body has too little in-hand in maintaining a balanced body fat, it will begin to break down muscle composition. Aerobic exercise—the kind tissue in order to satisfy energy that uses large muscle groups for an requirements. extended period of time—uses oxygen to burn fat for energy. A diet low in dietary Ideal Body Fat Percentages fat and high in complex carbohydrates (whole grains and vegetables) can Body fat percentage refers to the improve your body’s energy reserves with percentage of the total body weight a relatively low intake of calories. that is made up of fat. This percentage

This document was prepared by the staff of the UWSP University Health Service. This information should not be used in lieu of medical care. Last updated: May, 2000

Body Composition.doc