There is a lot of focus on losing weight these days. However, most people really just want to lose body fat and lower their overall body fat percentage. There is a big difference in terms of health and how one feels between being skinny and being lean and healthy.

Fat is essential to many of the body’s functions such as regulating body temperature, protecting organs and tissues and energy storage. However, there are two types of fat. The first is essential body fat and this is the stuff that you need to stay healthy. Then there is storage fat. This consists mainly of fat stored just under the skin. While you also need some of this, too much is unhealthy and when someone is “overweight” this is what we are talking about getting rid of.

Here is a basic chart to see the different body fat percentage categories.

Percentages for Women:             Men:
Essential Fat    10-12%                2-4%
Athletes             14-20%               6-13%
Fitness               21-24%               14-17%
Acceptable        25-31%               18-25%
Obese                 32%+                  25%+

As you can see, women naturally need more body fat to be healthy. Women with too little body fat can incur a cessation of periods and eventually become infertile. In general, too low a body fat percentage can increase the risk of disease, bone trouble, weakness, dizziness, exhaustion, etc.

So know you’re body fat percentage and check it regularly if you are dieting or exercising and use this as an index of your progress. Stay fit and stay healthy, healthy being the key!

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