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Your body fat percentage is simply the percentage of fat your body contains. If you are 150 pounds and 10% fat, it means that your body consists of 15 pounds fat and 135 pounds lean body mass (bone, muscle, organ tissue, blood and everything else).

A certain amount of fat is essential to bodily functions. Fat regulates body temperature, cushions and insulates organs and tissues and is the main form of the body's energy storage. The following table describes body fat ranges and their associated categories:


Classification Women (% fat) Men (% fat)
Essential Fat 10 - 12% 2 - 4%
Athletes 14 - 20% 6 - 13%
Fitness 21 - 24% 14 - 17%
Acceptable 25 - 31% 18 - 25%
Obese 32% 25%




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