Should I focus on my BMI or body fat percentage? What’s the difference?
Imagine you're trying to judge a book by its cover, but instead of the book, it's your body, and instead of the cover, it's two different measuring sticks: BMI and body fat percentage.
BMI: This is like looking at the book's weight. It tells you if it's a hefty tome or a slim paperback, but it doesn't say anything about the actual content – exciting adventure or snooze-fest? Same with BMI. It just compares your weight to your height, throwing terms like "underweight" or "obese" around, but it doesn't differentiate between muscle, that awesome superhero, and fat, the villain lurking in the shadows. So, a bodybuilder might get labeled "overweight" just because of all that lean muscle!
Body Fat Percentage: This is like dissecting the book and seeing how much is actual story (muscle) and how much is fluff (fat). It gives you a way more detailed picture of what's going on inside. Plus, a high body fat percentage, especially around your waist, can be a red flag for health problems, more so than just a high BMI.
Think of BMI as a quick check-in, like skimming the first page of the book. Body fat percentage is a deeper dive, like analyzing every sentence to see if the story is any good. Both have their uses, but for a truly accurate picture of your health, it's best to use them together, not just rely on the cover (or the BMI) alone!
A healthy body fat for women depends on a few things, but here’s a general guideline:
Athletes: 10-14% (This is on the low side overall, but some very fit women can fall into this range.)
Lean and Fit: 15-19%
Healthy Range: 20-24% (This is the average for most women)
Overweight: 25-31%
Obese: Over 32%
A healthy body fat for men:
Athletes: 6-13% (This is for very lean athletes. Most men won't fall into this range.)
Fit: 14-17%
Healthy Range: 18-24% (This is the typical range for most men)
Overweight: 25-31%
Obese: Over 32%
Important things to remember:
These are ranges, not hard and fast rules.
Age can play a role - a slightly higher body fat percentage might be healthy for older women.
Muscle is denser than fat, so someone who's very muscular might have a higher body fat percentage that's still healthy.
Focus on overall health:
Instead of obsessing over a specific number, it's more important to focus on how you feel and what your doctor says.
Here are some signs you're on the right track:
You have good energy levels, you maintain a healthy weight, eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly
Are you doing all of these things, but would like to see a bit more progress? We’d love to talk to you!