What should my fat and water %age be?

susuenglish

I have some scales which tell me my fat and water %age and until recently I've not really paid attention to it. I used to be around 40% on each but I've noticed today it has changed to 35% and water is 46%. Is that a step in the right direction? This is after 2 weeks of watching what I eat and exercising every day. I've seen people talk about 20% body fat which seems unrealistic for me for now but what should it be? I am 5ft 9 and 180 lb and have lost a couple of lb in the last couple of weeks.

shelbyfrootcake

An average woman should have between 25-30% body fat, less if you're very fit or athletic.

Not a clue about water though.

phoenixoncemore

I think it depends on your age but my scales came with a booklet and mine according to that should be:

Body Fat: 20 - 30%
Water: Over 50%

I think it also said that water had some relation to muscle but not sure on that score, it would make sense if you've started exercising for that to go up though. I only skimmed through the leaflet and it was over a year ago. I know there were different ages for the chart though and it was a whole different chart for men.

I also find mine changes depending on time of day, so I don't know how accurate the readings are.

Hope that helps.

phoenixoncemore

Aha, found this on the forums, some helpful soul copied the information from the booklet - actually the same scales I have so this should be a bit more comprehensive!


This salter scale uses BIA (bio impedance analysis) technology which passes a tiny eletrical impulse through the body to determine fat from lean tissue, the eletrical impulse cannot be felt and is perfectly safe. Contact with the body is via stainless steel pads on the platform of the scale.

Body fat

what does it mean?

The human body is made up of, amongst other things, a percentage of fat. This is vital for a healthy, functioning body- it cushions joints and protects vital organs, helps regulate body temperature, stores vitamins and helps the body sustain itself when food is scarce. However, too much body fat or indeed too little body fat can be damaging to your health. It is difficult to gauge how much body fat we have in our bodies simply by looking at ourselves in the mirror.
This is why it is important to measure and monitor your body fat percentage. Body fat percentage gives you a better measure of fitness than weight alone- the composition of weight loss could mean you are losing muscle mass rather than fat- you could still have a high percentage of fat even when a scale indicates ' normal weight'.

Body water

why measure it?

Body water is the single most important component of body weight. It represents over half of your total weight and almost two thirds of your lean body mass (predominantly muscle).
Water performs a number of important roles in the body
All cells in the body, whether in the skin, glands, muscles, brain or anywhere else, can only function properly if they have enough water. Water also plays a vital part in regulating the bodys temperature balance, particularly through perspiration.
The combination of your weight and fat measurement could appear to be normal but your body hydration level could be insufficient for healthy living.

Normal healthy range of body fat & total body water percentage
FOR THOSE USING ATHLETE MODE- note that athetes may have a lower body fat range and a higher body water range than shown below, depending on their type of sport or activity.

Male
Age Body fat Body water
18- 28 8-19% 60%
30- 39 11-21% 60%
40- 49 13-23% 55%
50- 59 15- 25% 55%
60-69 17- 27% 50%

Women
Age Body fat Body water
18-29 20-30% 50%
30-39 22-32% 50%
40- 49 24-34% 47%
50- 59 26- 36% 47%
60- 69 28- 38% 45%

Body water measurement results are influenced by the proportion of body fat and muscle. If the proportion of body fat is high, or the proportion of muscle is low then the body water results will tend to be low.
It is important to remember that measurements such as body weight, body fat and body water are tools for you to use as part of your healthy lifestyle. As short term fluctuations are normal, we suggest you cart your progress over time, rather than focus on a single days reading.

Why are the body fat percentage ranges for men and women so different?

Women naturally carry a higher percentage of fat than men, because the make-up of the body is different being geared towards pregnancy, breastfeeding etc.

What should i do if my body fat reading is very high?

A sensible diet, fluid intake and exercise program can reduce your body fat percentage.

What should i do if my water reading is low?

Ensure that you are regularly taking suffcient water and work towards moving your fat percentage into the healthy range.

susuenglish

Thats great info thanks! Looks like I am going in the right direction then...

tntvasquez

Great Info!. Thanks for posting.

carolynsconers

This is a wonderful educational tool. I will recommend my fitness pal to everyone!