The protocols which have to be in place when using the BIA method also pose a problem for an accurate estimation of percentage body fat, leaving skinfold measurement as the current forerunner for accurate field testing. In modern society obesity has become a growing concern for the health care practitioner.

S adults from 20 years of age and older suffer from obesity. That's over 60 million people! The evaluation of percentage body fat on a habitual basis as part of an annual medical may be a vital tool to help minimize the risk of such complications.

The evaluation of percentage body fat can be used as a guide as to what may lie ahead for those on the higher percentage body fat scales. A recent study entitled "The Influence of Excess Adiposity on Exercise Fitness and Performance in Overweight Children and Adolescents" hypothesized that the increased metabolic cost of having to move a greater mass, was the primary factor limiting overweight adolescents when they undertake sustained exercise, and also that the effect of diminished cardio respiratory reserve would be smaller but still important and warranted further study.

The study shows that even as a child or an adolescent increased body fat percentage is having a direct effect on human function which can only diminish with time if not rectified.

Through body fat evaluation the health care practitioner can more readily prescribe suitable measures for the individual to obtain an optimum level percentage body fat, whether it be to counter act an elevated body fat percentage or merely to maintain ones current levels.

However the evaluation of percentage body fat is not limited to those who are overweight or suffering from obesity, it is an essential part of the process when treating patients with Anorexia Nervosa. In a recent study on the refeeding of adolescent girls, bioelectrical impedance analyses was used to monitor body composition throughout the study.

The initial BMI for the girls suffering from Anorexia Nervosa was A significant finding was that despite a In most athletic events the athletes must move their own body mass through a series of movements as quickly and efficiently as possible, excessive body fat generally has an adverse effect on performance of a variety of motors skills and cardiovascular endurance.

From a mechanical perspective, excess body fat is an inert load that must be moved, a dead weight that provides no function. Not only is this of great concern regarding the ability to perform on the field at such an excessive weight, but also of even greater concern is the possible health risks associated with such extreme levels of obesity.

Another famous American athlete, Chris Taylor, a U. S Olympic wrestler, competed at a bodyweight of - lbs - Effects of excess body fat are especially apparent when comparing obese to non-obese individuals.

In a recent study on the comparison of physical fitness between obese and non-obese Flemish youths, a strong correlation was found between obesity and inferior performance results on all tests which required propulsion or lifting of the body mass. Tests included, standing broad jump, sit-ups, bent-arm hang, speed shuttle runs, and endurance shuttle runs.

The sample group was divided into those who were obese and non-obese using both Body Mass Index and Skinfold measurement. A similar study comparing the performance of obese and non-obese Belgian girls on most measures of physical performance; including strength, flexibility, and motor performance, found similar results.

From the information above we are lead to conclude that not only does excess body fat negatively influences the ability to perform physical tasks; it also poses a serious threat to health and place the obese individual at a high risk for serious health complications. The evaluation of body fat therefore plays a vital role in the evaluation of human function and performance.

According to the American Council on Exercise, men's body fat should never fall below 2 percent and women's shouldn't fall below 10 percent. Based on that, an acceptable range for a male bodybuilder is 3 to 8 percent and a female bodybuilder should aim for around 10 percent.

Going lower than these numbers, especially for long periods of time, can cause kidney and liver problems. Weight Management Weight and Body Fat Body Fat. What Is a Good Body Fat Percentage for a Bodybuilder? By Leigh Reason.

When taking a skinfold, the basic idea is to "pinch and pull. The sites used to determine body fat are usually identified by bony markings or body parts that are consistent between people, like a nipple or navel. This enables you to accurately find a specific point on the body no matter your overall body composition, and find the same point again on anyone else.

When you first start, I recommended that you use measuring tape to find the exact point you need, marking the spot with a felt-tip pen. As you become more practiced, you will be able to ditch the extra tools. Imagine a vertical line running straight down through your right nipple.

This reference point is called the "midaxillary line. Pinch that spot diagonally, or have your helper do it. Make a vertical fold one inch to the right of your navel.

If you have trouble getting a consistent vertical fold, it's OK to use a horizontal fold instead. There isn't much of a difference, but you should note if you do something different from normal and use that method in the future to stay consistent.

Find the midpoint between the hip and the knee and use a vertical fold. Unless you take out measuring tape and a marker for precise measuring, I recommend using your hand to measure rather than eyeballing it. For instance, I use the distance between the tip of my thumb and pinky from the top of the knee, which for most people is fairly close to the midpoint.

Since I do it that way every time, I'm able to be consistent. Find the midpoint between the acromion process the bony knob on top of your shoulder and the point of the elbow.

You'll need a helper for this. Use a vertical fold. This site is found below the armpit at the top ridge of your hip bone, called the iliac crest or suprailiac, taken on the side. Gently press the area and find the ridge of the hip, going just above the bone.

Measure using a diagonal fold. As with men, use the midpoint between the hip and the knee. As I mentioned, I normally use the distance between the tip of my thumb and pinky from the top of the knee, which is fairly close to the midpoint for most people.

Measure using a vertical fold. Enter your skinfold measurements into our Body Fat Calculator to get your results! When people talk about wanting to lose weight, usually what they're really talking about is losing fat. Ideally, when you lose weight, you'll lose as much fat as possible, and as little lean mass as possible.

It can actually be good for you to gain weight in the form of lean mass muscle , since having more muscle actually helps you burn fat. So a more accurate and practical goal than just losing weight would be instead to lower your body fat percentage, also known as changing your body composition—the ratio of fat mass to lean mass that makes up your body.

When you lower your body fat percentage, you'll end up looking more fit, whether you got there by losing fat, gaining muscle, or a combination of both. What constitutes a "healthy" level of body fat depends a lot on your sex and your goals.

If you're not worried about keeping your body fat low for aesthetic or performance goals, then it's perfectly OK to have the goal of keeping your body fat percentage anywhere below "obese" and above "essential fat levels. Use that number to gauge progress, because the scale doesn't always tell the whole story.

You might be losing weight or gaining weight, but where is that weight coming from? Muscle or fat?

But the reality is not everybody can—or should—get to that shredded level and stay there. Frankly, it is not sustainable at all! If you're going to do it, it's going to have to be something that you design your whole life around. As I explained in my article, " How Do I Go from Lean to Ripped? And having an exceptionally low body-fat percentage can have negative health effects for your fertility, your immune system, and even your heart health.

Let's say you're not up for that challenge. That's fine! There's a range of healthy and sustainable body-fat levels between ripped and unhealthily overweight. And before you pick a number, let's be clear that there are many different factors that play into what constitutes a healthy body-fat percentage for you.

A few include your gender, physical activity, body type , genetics and natural tendencies, and age. To cite the most obvious example, women have a much wider range for what is considered a healthy body-fat level because they require more body fat than men to support their respective reproductive functions.

To find what's best for most people, let's start by taking a look at one of the most popular body-fat scales, from the American Council of Exercise ACE :. You can argue over the categories and their boundaries, but this is a "good enough" scale for the vast majority of people. If you're looking for a "never go lower than this percentage unless your life depends on it," the essential fat category is your line.

Essential fat is integral for a healthy body to live and function. We're not talking love handles here; this is the type of fat that plays a major role in temperature regulation, vitamin absorption, hormone regulation , and just holding your body together.

Where is essential fat found? It is found in the brain, bone marrow, nerves and membranes that protect your organs. So, when someone says, "My body fat was 2 percent on a bodybuilding stage," Trust me, keep listening to fitness conversations for long enough and you'll hear something close.

You'd be dead. If you're wise enough not to want to dig into essential fats, " athlete " is tempting, right? But athlete is pretty close to that "unsustainably shredded" standard I talked about earlier. There's a good reason it's called athlete: You have to be working your butt off, in the gym or on the field, to hang out at a body fat like that.

It can be healthy for a finite period of time—say, during the competitive season—but let's just say there are off seasons for a good reason. Now we're talking. For a man with average genetics and a healthy lifestyle, percent is a great, sustainable body fat. J Strength Cond Res 37 3 : , The purpose of this review was to systematically summarize studies measuring the body composition of competitive bodybuilding athletes to provide recommended values for preparation and during competition.

The protocol was preregistered with PROSPERO CRD and followed the guidelines of the Preferred Reported Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis. A search of 5 electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, SportDiscus, CINAHL, and Scopus was conducted to retrieve all relevant publications from January 1, , up to June 13, Of 16 studies meeting the inclusion criteria, 6 presented longitudinal data on competition preparation and were discussed in detail.

In the general preparation phase, body fat levels of bodybuilding athletes ranged between Close to competition, however, body fat levels were substantially lower, ranging from 8.

Findings from the studies included in this review suggest that most bodybuilding competitors keep resistance training volume high while increasing aerobic training volume when preparing for competition.