When Measuring Body Fat….

Turning to a bathroom scale is a common thing for those who are trying to lose weight. Scales only measure body weight and cannot measure body fat percentage, which should also be considered.

Dangers of body fat?

The words “body fat” almost always have a negative reaction, however, our diets heavily rely on a certain amount of fat. Fat is crucial to the body to protect our organs and to preserve body heat. Our ability to store extra fat was the main reason people in the past survived cold winters, and lack of food.

Health issues arise when too much fat is stored in our bodies. These issues vary between insulin resistance, high cholesterol, and glucose intolerance. Most fat should be stored at the thighs and hips, but when fat is stored at the waist, it is dangerous for the body. The normal amount of body fat is different for both men and women; women should be in the twenty to thirty percentiles, while men should be in the eight to fifth teen percentile.

Measuring body fat?

A few ways to measure the amount of body fat in a person is Bioelectric Impedance Analysis, also known as BIA. BIA is when electrodes are placed on a persons hand and foot while a current is passing through the body, which is then measuring the body fat, and the resulting numbers are entered into an equation, giving the percentage of fat and lean tissue.

Another way to measure body fat is determining the body mass index, which is also the easiest way, but not as accurate. BMI is done by multiplying your weight in pounds, then dividing that number by your height in inches, two times. If the end result is less than 18.5, the individual is underweight; 18.5 to 24.9 is normal; 25.0 to 29.9 is overweight; over 30.0 is obese. However, the BMI is not entirely accurate because it does not factor in the amount of muscle, for instance, it may not be the best measurement of way for body builders and athletes.

If you are not happy with your percentage of body fat, all it takes is a little movement a few times a week. Cutting calories and exercising is the key to get you going in the right direction.