People often focus on their
weight, but body-fat percentage
is a better indicator of overall
fitness. It is, however, more
difficult to measure.
What is body fat?
Simply put, it's the amount of
fat on your body. Some is
supposed to be there to help
your body function properly. Too
much will cause it to function
poorly.
Can I have too much body fat?
Yes. This is a common problem in
today's world. Besides being
unsightly, too much body fat
puts excessive stress on your
bodily functions, causing you to
easily become sick or injured.
Can I have too little body
fat?
Yes. While rarely a problem, too
little body fat puts your body
at risk of serious illness. Body
fat serves as an insulator,
helping to protect your body.
Without it you become adversely
affected by environmental
conditions.
Is losing body fat more
important than losing weight?
Yes. Obesity is equivalent to
having too much body fat. Weight
alone does not determine
obesity. Muscle tissue weighs
much more than fat. Because of
this, when you add muscle and
lose fat, you shrink at the same
weight. Some of our clients have
lost dress sizes while gaining
weight! On the other hand, a
very thin person with high body
fat, while not “obese” on the
BMI scale, may be tremendously
unhealthy and in need of gaining
muscle—and weight—in order to
become healthy.
How can I measure my body
fat?
Two easy and inexpensive methods
are the weight-to-waist ratio
and the body fat caliper (see
Body Fat Tester), with the
latter being more accurate. The
most accurate methods all
require supervision and
equipment—such as being weighed
in water—and are quite
expensive. For everyday
purposes, the cheap and easy
methods are effective.
Use the
body fat calculator to
estimate your body fat based on
some simple measurements, which
you should try to make under the
same conditions each time. This
will make your readings more
accurate, though they still
could be off by up to 5%.
Nonetheless, as long as you are
headed in the right direction
(down, in most cases), you'll
know you're on the right track.
Once I calculate my body fat,
what should I do with this
information?
Write it down or just remember
it. Body fat percentage is
merely a gauge to let you know
how your training is going. You
don't need to alter your program
based on it, though having a
high reading will often motivate
you to work out harder. If you
suspect that you're outrageously
high or low, we recommend that
you see your doctor for a
consultation. |
