Healthy Body Fat Percentage

Most Type 2 diabetics know (or will soon learn) that their ability to manage their diabetes effectively is often linked directly to their body fat percentage. The more body fat a diabetic has, the greater the chances that the individual will have high blood pressure, low blood circulation, and greater risk of heart disease, amongst other complications. Therefore, if you are a Diabetic looking for ways to manage your Diabetes better, start with decreasing body fat.

Get To Know Your Body Fat Percent

Body fat is read as a percentage of your overall body weight. Very athletic people may have five percent body fat, which means that five percent of their bodies are made of fat. Overweight people may have 25 – 30 percent or more body fat. Most people should have less than about 25 -30 percent body fat in order to stay health.

But how much body fat is healthy for you to have? How can you measure your own body fat? Here are some answers to common questions about measuring your own body fat:

What is a healthy body fat range?

Of course, everyone needs fat in order to be healthy. Fat helps to lubricate your muscles, protect your bones and organs, and provides temperature control for your body. However, too much fat can lead to damaging consequences.

Everyone has his or her own ideal body fat percentage. The amount of ideal body fat for an individual may depend on body type, age, activity level, and hereditary.

Here’s the basic body fat break-down by percentage for the average person:
Below 18.5………….Underweight
18.5 – 24.9…………..Normal
25 – 29.9……………..Overweight
30 & Above………….Obese

How do I measure body fat?

There are several ways to measure body fat. We have a variety of scales Body Fat Scales that send an electrical impulse through your body (you won’t feel it) in order to measure the amount of body fat that you have. You can also use the body mass index formula to measure your own body fat.

What is the body mass index formula?

The body mass index (BMI) formula, as outlined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is:

BMI = (weight in pounds) X (703)

……. (height in inches) X (height in inches)

How do electric body fat scales work?

Body electric scales use Bioelectric Impedance Analysis (BIA), which uses a very low-level electric signal that is passed from one foot pad through the body from one foot and received by a second foot pad on your other foot. Because muscle and water have high water content, the electric signal passes more quickly through them than fat. Therefore, when measured against your height, weight, gender, and activity level, the scale can quickly analyze your percent (%) body fat.