Body fat % for a woman?

[tat2d_chic]

What is considered a healthy bf% range for a woman?

I am 33 years old and 5'3"...not that that really matters in considering bf...its just for general info.

[Cort]

The chart at my gym says 10% is excellent...I'd figure anything below 20% is pretty healthy for man or woman...but I'd shoot for something between 10-15% if you are going for looks (any lower and you'd start to look kinda ripped...not sure if that is what you want) and age does play a slight factor in bodyfat

[Kitara]

This is the answer from my textbook:

What is the "ideal" amount of fat for a body to have? This prompts another question: Ideal for what? If the answer is "society's approval," be aware that fashion is fickle. Body shapes valued for looks may have little to do with health, and many of the most popular body shapes are not achievable for most people.

If the answer is "health," then the ideal depends partly on who you are. A man of normal weight will have between 12 and 20 percent of body weight as fat, and a woman will have between 20 and 30 percent. Researchers draw the line when the body fat exceeds 22 percent in young men, 25 percent in older men, 32 percent in younger women, and 35 percent in older women; age 40 is the dividing line between younger and older.

[Chain]

There is no way most women could maintain a bodyfat % between 10-15%.

tat, bodyfat % as far as health kinda varies from person to person. Some people just handle bodyfat better than others so there is no specific number. I could look in one of my textbooks for a specific % but there's not much point. Up to 30% is considered healthy for women. For aesthetic appearance most girls that look good that I know and have been tested are between 16-20%. You could go below that but it's hard for most girls to maintain a % in the low teens. But then, I've seen quite a few girls that had nice bodies with bodyfat %'s in the low to mid 20's. If you want one # though, if I were you I'd shoot for 20% and go from there.

[Lady C]

The lower the bodyfat the harder it is to maintain. I have been as low as 15% for a VERY short period. I float around 17% but my goal is 14%. But like chain says everyone is different.

[Merrida]

For a woman, the bodyfat ranges provided when doing diagnostics are 18%-26%. Lady C is in exceptionally good shape and exceptionally above-average with a beautifully lean body. Her bodyfat is comparable to that of a teenage cheerleader.

Bodyfat above 26%-28% is considered over-fat, or obese, and unhealthy, and (statistically) puts the woman at greater risk for health problems.

26% is statistically considered "average."

18% is statistically considered "acceptable" for very young women, teenagers, and athletic, highly active women. It's usually extremely difficult for an adult woman to attain this low level of bodyfat, or as Lady C pointed out, to maintain that degree of leanness over time.

It can be done, but it mostly depends on your genetics, lifestyle, activity, diet, etc.

Remember, too, that when getting BF%, it is not the same thing as BMI.

[lttleangel]

so at what body fat do the little nit of chubbies go away?

[Lady C]

Originally Posted by lttleangel

so at what body fat do the little nit of chubbies go away?

I'm not sure what "little nit of chubbies" means, but if you are refering to that last bit of fat at the belly area, the right answer is depends. Depends on your genetics, your diet, your activity level, etc. If you are below 20% be happy with it. If you are insistant on having the model picture perfect body then it will take lots and lots of hard work.

[lttleangel]

hm....well I hope I can be happy with abot 18-19% - Is that reachable an maintainable without getting obsessed?