Ask an expert
Search expert health advice:
Browse by expert
- Allergy expert
- Anti-ageing expert
- Arthritis expert
- Breast cancer expert
- Cancer expert
- CyberDoc
- Oral health expert
- Diabetes expert
- EnviroHealth expert
- Family law expert
Question
20 Apr 2006
Share
Body Fat %
What is the normal range your body fat should be? What is the best persentage of body fat? I'm 1.73m, 57kg en 28% body fat. I want to gain muscle tone and thus weight through that way because I know my BMI is on the low side - not underweight but close too. I don't want to gain fat. For what body fat % should I aim? I'm not going tro worry about the weight too much because with the muscle gain I'll gain the weight. Ii'm doing Toning exercises 3 times a week and cardio twice a week according a plan a personal trainer worked out for me. Thanks for your help!
FitnessDoc
Hi there
It depends on your gender, which I am not sure of. If you are a female, then 28% is a reasonable value - it's not poor, I can assure you. If you are male, then it is on the high side. here are the general norms for body fat percentage:
Male
Excellent Good Acceptable Fair Poor
16-29 < 12 12 - 15 16 - 20 21 - 26 > 26
30-39 < 14 14 - 17 18 - 22 23 - 28 > 28
40-49 < 15 15 - 18 19 - 23 24 - 29 > 29
50-59 < 16 16 - 19 20 - 24 25 - 30 > 30
60 + < 18 18 - 20 21 - 25 26 - 30 > 30
Female
Excellent Good Acceptable Fair Poor
16 -29 < 18 18 - 19 20 - 24 25 - 32 > 32
30 -39 < 19 19 - 22 23 - 27 28 - 33 > 33
40 -49 < 21 21 - 23 24 - 28 29 - 34 > 34
50 -59 < 23 23 - 25 26 - 30 31 - 36 > 36
60 + < 24 24 - 26 27 - 31 32 - 38 > 38
If you keep up your exercise, then I'm sure that you will see changes - just remember that gaining muscle and toning take time, so don't expect results overnight.
Good luck
It depends on your gender, which I am not sure of. If you are a female, then 28% is a reasonable value - it's not poor, I can assure you. If you are male, then it is on the high side. here are the general norms for body fat percentage:
Male
Excellent Good Acceptable Fair Poor
16-29 < 12 12 - 15 16 - 20 21 - 26 > 26
30-39 < 14 14 - 17 18 - 22 23 - 28 > 28
40-49 < 15 15 - 18 19 - 23 24 - 29 > 29
50-59 < 16 16 - 19 20 - 24 25 - 30 > 30
60 + < 18 18 - 20 21 - 25 26 - 30 > 30
Female
Excellent Good Acceptable Fair Poor
16 -29 < 18 18 - 19 20 - 24 25 - 32 > 32
30 -39 < 19 19 - 22 23 - 27 28 - 33 > 33
40 -49 < 21 21 - 23 24 - 28 29 - 34 > 34
50 -59 < 23 23 - 25 26 - 30 31 - 36 > 36
60 + < 24 24 - 26 27 - 31 32 - 38 > 38
If you keep up your exercise, then I'm sure that you will see changes - just remember that gaining muscle and toning take time, so don't expect results overnight.
Good luck
The information provided does not constitute a diagnosis of your condition. You should consult a medical practitioner or other appropriate health care professional for a physical examination, diagnosis and formal advice. Health24 and the expert accept no responsibility or liability for any damage or personal harm you may suffer resulting from making use of this content.
