What is BFP?
Body fat percentage is the portion of your body that is composed of fat, or that portion that is not lean body mass. The purpose of body fat, also known as adipose tissue, is to serve as a storage form of energy for the body and protection for vital organs. A portion of that fat, essential fat, is necessary for life and is found around the brain, spinal cord, bone marrow, and organs.
The purpose of measuring and monitoring your BFP is to establish your risk for health disorders, to help determine the need for and develop exercise and healthy eating plans, and to track your progress during your health and wellness journey.
Ways to Measure Fat in Your Body
There are several methods available to measure percentafe of fat in your body. These include simple anthropomorphic measures and bioelectric impedance analysis, and advanced measures of body fat percentage that can only be performed by specialized institutions such as hydrostatic weighing, Bod Pod, and DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) scan.
Interpreting Test Results
Once you have calculated your BFP you must be interpret what your result means. Always include your healthcare provider in this discussion about results that are outlined below.
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BFP male less than 10% or female less than 15% is considered under fat. Too low body fat can be associated with health problems. Your body will be at risk for heart disease, weakened immune system, vitamin deficiencies, reproductive system problems, weakened muscles, illness and broken bones, and decreased energy level.
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10 to 25% for males or 15 to 30% for females is generally considered healthy. It is recommended that you maintain a healthy fat percentage to reduce your risk of developing serious health problems.
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BFP greater than 25% for males or 30% for females is considered over fat. If you accumulate excess body fat it leads to overweight and obesity which increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis, and sleep disorders.
Reasons to Measure Level of Your Body Fat
The purpose of measuring and monitoring your body fat percentage is to establish your risk for health disorders, to help determine the need for and develop exercise and healthy eating plans, and to track your progress during your health and wellness journey. Body composition is more important than body weight because body weight alone does not provide you with a ratio of lean mass to fat mass. You should discuss this with your healthcare provider, regardless of the number, to assist in the development of health and wellness strategies.
| Method | Description | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Anthropometric | Skinfold measurement using calipers – 3 locations are measured, body fat calculated by entering measurements into a formulaNavy Method – men: height, neck, and waist measurements for men; women: height, neck, waist, and hip measurements; body fat calculated by entering measurements into a formula | - Reliability depends upon accurate readings so have someone double check measurements - Very cheap |
| Bioelectric impedance analysis, body fat scales | Measures the speed a painless electrical current travels through your bodyLean body mass conducts electricity faster than fat and this difference is used to calculate BFP | - Hydration level can affect results because water also conducts electrical impulses - Cheap |
| Hydrostatic weighing | Compares normal body weight to body weight underwater which is used to calculate body fat percentage | - Considered the most accurate test for calculating body fat - Not readily available - Expensive |
| The Bod Pod (Air Displacement Plethysmography) | Measures the volume of air your body displaces inside the podThis is used to calculate body fat, lean body mass, and basal metabolic rate | - Very accurate, comparable to hydrostatic weighing - Not readily available - Expensive |
| DEXA Scan (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry Analysis) | Special x-ray is used to determine body composition | - Very accurate, comparable to hydrostatic weighing - Not readily available - Very Expensive |
Fig.1 – Methods used to measure BFP.
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