![]() The healthy range of body fat for men is typically defined as 8-19%, while the healthy range for women is 21-33%. The amount of essential fat differs between men and women, and is typically around 2-5% in men, and 10-13% in women. It is necessary fat that maintains life and reproductive functions. Essential body fat is a base level of fat that is found in most parts of the body. ![]() In addition, it secretes a number of important hormones, and provides the body with some cushioning as well as insulation.īody fat includes essential body fat and storage body fat. Its primary purpose is to store lipids from which the body creates energy. The scientific term for body fat is "adipose tissue." Adipose tissue serves a number of important functions. Jackson & Pollard Ideal Body Fat Percentages Age The American Council on Exercise Body Fat Categorization Description However, the BMI ranges are based on the relationship between body weight and disease and death, and knowing your number can be life-saving.Related BMI Calculator | Calorie Calculator | Ideal Weight Calculator Why BMI Is Still Important For Black WomenīMI is not the only way to size up your shape. According to new research from Rush University Medical Center, cultural norms for body size may prevent awareness among many Black women about the potential health benefits they and others in their cultural group might achieve through weight loss. Black women have the highest obesity prevalence of any demographic group and are more likely to underestimate their body weight than white women.The cultural threshold for overweight was determined to be about a BMI of 35, which is higher than the medical definition of ≥25. According to researchers in the study Body Size Perception Among African American Women, 56% of overweight women (BMI 25 or greater) and 40% of obese women (BMI 30 or greater) did not classify their body size as overweight, obese, or too fat.The statistical risk for disease high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure would increase at BMI of 30 /180 pounds in Caucasian women and at a BMI of 33 /198 pounds in Black women according to researchers.Based on direct measures of body fat, such as dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), researchers found that a Black woman may not be overweight or obese even though the BMI formula indicates that she is.Discrepancies in BMI may be due to variations in bone mineral content, hydration state and the density of lean mass in different ethnic groups.Atkinson, MD, a researcher and editor of the International Journal of Obesity.įor Black women in particular, here are five interesting aspects to consider regarding BMI: There are a lot of differences in BMI and health risk among multicultural groups according to Richard L. An African-American with a BMI of 28, considered overweight by the standard chart, may be as healthy as a Caucasian person with a BMI of 25. RELATED: What Is BMI & How Can I Calculate It?Īfrican-Americans tend to have less visceral fat (fat around their organs) and more muscle mass. For African American, women the number is 32.” It doesn’t take into account differences in body composition between genders, race/ethnicity groups and across the life span,” says Molly Bray, an associate professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and lead author of a study at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.īray states, “Non-Hispanic white women are not considered obese until they have a BMI of 30 or above. ![]() ![]() “This scale was created years ago and is based on Caucasian men and women. The current BMI categories state: BMI Chart Women: Epidemiologists use BMI to calculate national obesity rates.īritish Journal of Nutrition published a study that found the BMI formula , which is widely used to determine body fat, may not be accurate for non-Caucasian, multicultural populations. BMI is an inexpensive and easy-to-perform method of screening to identify possible weight problems for adults. Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to most adult men and women. ![]()
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