 |
  |
What does my body fat percentage measure?Here's the scoop... your body is composed of lean body mass and fat. Fat is where you store excess calories for fuel. Lean body mass is everything that's not fat-bones, organs, muscle, and blood. Why is body fat important? The purpose of body fat is the storage of energy to be used by the body. It also helps provide warmth and protection for our bodies. Internal fat helps support and provide protection for the spinal cord, hear and vital organs. Therefore, the real problem is not body fat - it is excess body fat. What are some of the health risks with having too much body fat? Excess body fat has been associated with, among other things, increased chances for high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, diabetes, stroke and some cancers. What should your body fat percentage be? The optimal body fat percentage varies considerably for men and women as well as age. However, the minimum percent body fat considered safe for good health is 5% for males and 12% for females. On the other end of the spectrum, there is a high correlation with illness and disease for men with over 25% and women with over 32% body fat percentages. On the average, most young men have a body fat percentage of 15 to 17% and most young women have a body fat percentage of 18 to 22%. Among athletes, it varies, but is usually lower than the general averages. Athletic men average around 6% to 12% and athletic women average around 12% to 20%. Body fat percentage is an important health assessment tool. It provides useful information about a person's fitness levels and overall well-being that cannot be gleaned from weight measurements alone. For example, two women can be the same height and weigh the same, yet one can be carrying too much fat while the other is not. How is this possible? Take a look at these results:
Prior to the late 70's, body fat percentage was an obscure tool. Height and weight charts-popularized by insurance companies-told you if you were overweight or underweight for your height and frame size. Today, there are four main ways in which to measure your body fat: • Skinfold Calipers. This is perhaps the best way for the average person to measure body fat. It requires skinfold calipers and the help of another person. • Wrist Tape-Measure. This method relates wrist size to height. It is not recommended because it is too inaccurate. It requires numerical tables to use. • Underwater Weighing . This is the gold standard, but you need to find a fitness center with a pool or tank and the right equipment. • Bioelectrical Impedance Scales . This method measures body fat composition by sending a low, safe electrical current through the body. You can purchase the Accu-Measure Fitness 3000 Personal Body Fat Tester - skinfold calipers - through EnergyFirst at www.energyfirst.com . And, after you have taken your skinfold measurements, you can go to the EnergyFirst website to calculate your body fat percentage. Getting enough green vegetables? Probably not. TRY THIS GREEN DRINK - Click Here  |
|
 The information presented is prepared from medical and scientific sources of the latest exercise physiology and human biochemistry research. In our experience, this research has been shown to be accurate and reliable. The information herein and our products are not intended to take the place of medical advice nor are they intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your physician before taking supplements, particularly if you are taking prescription medication. Our product contains nutrients that have been clinically proven to nutritionally support the body. However, under the rules created by the FDA, we cannot claim that, by consuming our products, it will cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease. And, because of the nature of how we produce our products, using only natural ingredients, our products will never be classified as a drug. Only a drug, approved by the FDA, may claim to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
|
