Does anyone have bodyfat charts

[machinehead022]

Hi

I hear everyone talking about bodyfat percentages. What is average for 6ft male? Is there a chart of averages for size and gender? How low is to low? Thanks for the help.

 

[Pitboss]

I think the breakdown is somethign like this.

12-18% althetic male: usually found at local gym 3 to 4 times a week. Can also be found running through local parks, beaches and occasionally through neighbors yards.

19-26 Average American male: Has been seen frequenting McDonalds, Burger King, and other fast food establishments two to three times a week. Can also be found playing on a softball team once a week.

27% and higher: This is where the obesity category starts. Normally this person stays at home. Has pizza or Chinese food delivered 3 to 4 times a week. Fast food is the staple of this mans diet. Some attempts at dieting have been known, usually in the form of a diet soft drink to chase down the double cheese burger with extra bacon.

 

[Mudge]

From what I've seen 20% and higher is obese for a male, 30% for a woman.

12-15% for a woman, healthy
8-12% healthy for a male

I'm 14.1%, and I workout, but I would not call my belly very athletic at all!

 

[Pitboss]

Originally posted by Mudge
From what I've seen 20% and higher is obese for a male, 30% for a woman.

12-15% for a woman, healthy
8-12% healthy for a male

I'm 14.1%, and I workout, but I would not call my belly very athletic at all!

I don't believe everything people say or read. I personally believe contest ready BB are closer to 6-7% versus the 3% your read. I also think that if a healthy male is 8-12% we'd see 90% of the guys at the gym walking around fairly ripped with a six pack. If I was to break it down to BB % I would say..

6 to 9% ripped, shredded!!!

9 to 12% Damn tight. Six pack is showing, just not fully ripped.

13 to 16% Your body builder, people can recognize you work out. Toned but not ripped. Six pack is hiding, just barely.

17 to 22% Your average gym goer. Not ripped, rather soft, gets excited when he can see a vein in his arm sticking out. Seperation is what he and his wife are going through.

 

[machinehead022]

Cool, Thanks that puts a lot of what I have seen into perspective. Thanks for the input

 

[Mudge]

I don't feel healthy at 14%, I'm a 3 toed sloth compared to the endurance I had at 10%, I don't think its just the 30 extra pounds.

The difference between being lean, and being fat is something you feel.

Since 60% of the US is obese or clinically overweight, I think the average is not a mark to shoot for.

 

[machinehead022]

I would guess I am under the average. I haven't been checked in a couple of years. But I was just under 6% a few years ago when I was swimming for 3 teams and practicing for 3-4 hours a day 6 days a week. I was so skinny like 140 at 6ft and every rib showed. I am pudgier now and more aware of my health (I used to eat everything that was bad and it didn't matter so I thought) I just want to make sure I don't get like that again. Now I am at 175 and 6.1

 

[Fit Freak]

Pitboss...you're absolutely right about the bodybuilig percentages being lower than actual...I hear a lot about 3-4% and it ususally isn't correct. A 30 year-old male at 6-7% is totally shredded! Good post!

 

[NickB]

"17 to 22% Your average gym goer. Not ripped, rather soft, gets excited when he can see a vein in his arm sticking out. "

rofl... that's me ... hahah

 

[Mudge]

If someone is really big yes, they dont need to be 3% bodyfat, it all depends. Guys like Dorian, didn't come in all that cut, just big.

Francoi Benfatto, I would not doubt that he came in around 4% or so, he showed lots of detail everywhere, you could just about see every fiber in his biceps.

 

[Mudge]

Originally posted by machinehead022
I would guess I am under the average. I haven't been checked in a couple of years. But I was just under 6% a few years ago when I was swimming for 3 teams and practicing for 3-4 hours a day 6 days a week. I was so skinny like 140 at 6ft and every rib showed. I am pudgier now and more aware of my health (I used to eat everything that was bad and it didn't matter so I thought) I just want to make sure I don't get like that again. Now I am at 175 and 6.1

Definately are, I knew a guy who was 8% in high school, and he was very detailed. Average people are fat in the US, thats just the way it is, IMO though that doesn't make it ok to call it healthy, so I still consider 20% obese for a male. I feel different from when I was 10%, most definately.

 

[ponyboy]

Actually, the average bodyfat percentages are higher than people might think.

For men, 15-20% is considered healthy range...with men, 4% body fat is essential, meaning it is the lowest amount they can have and still protect their vital organs.

For women, 20-25% is considered healthy, and anywhere from 11-13% of fat is essential for many functions. This is why when women get below 12% they usually stop periods, etc.

These are the guidelines through, ACE, ACSM, NSCA, generally accepted throughout the world.

 

[Pitboss]

Originally posted by Mudge
Average people are fat in the US, thats just the way it is, IMO though that doesn't make it ok to call it healthy, so I still consider 20% obese for a male. I feel different from when I was 10%, most definately.

This is me from July of last year... at 18%. Based on your opinion I am only 2% below from being obese??????? I had my BF checked at 2 different gyms by 3 different people and they all came up with 17-18%.

 

[Mudge]

This is not my opinion man, this is what I was told by a doctor as accepted standard. Look at what Canada calls obese, not much different except not even taking bodyfat into consideration.

I do not feel in any way that 20% bodyfat is healthy for a male, its way over what I feel any kind of healthy at, ergo I do not argue with it being obese, sick, discustingly out of shape, etc just as I consider my 14.1% bodyfat pathetically out of shape especially for my age.

 

[Mudge]

Originally posted by ponyboy
Actually, the average bodyfat percentages are higher than people might think.

For men, 15-20% is considered healthy range...with men, 4% body fat is essential, meaning it is the lowest amount they can have and still protect their vital organs.

For women, 20-25% is considered healthy, and anywhere from 11-13% of fat is essential for many functions. This is why when women get below 12% they usually stop periods, etc.

These are the guidelines through, ACE, ACSM, NSCA, generally accepted throughout the world.

I think thats sad, and pathetic that anyone would consider that an acceptable standard. Seems just like the US school system "well, since the quality of the school system is going down, lets make tests easier for kids so they dont feel bad that were not teaching them anything."

 

[Mudge]

Ponyboy, looks like your numbers are close to right according to the American Heart Association.

http://www.oaktrees.org/fitness/bodyfat.html

Not only is it ok to be fat, but McDonalds is good for you.

 

[Pitboss]

Mudge I'm not understanding you... are you saying that in my pic from last July I am unhealthy??? For 34 years old and a crappy diet I think I look better than 90% of the male population for my age group. At 5'9 and 181 in that picture. Body fat % doesn't mean squat. If I was to go by the charts I should have only weighed 155-160lbs to be considered healthy.

Even now I'm sitting at 187 and my guess would be 15-16% BF and I get complmented daily on how I look. That's in shorts and tank or no shirt on many occassions so I'm not hiding the "fat".
I do not think 20% is unhealthy for a male. Sure he may not be toned or cut but he sure the hell isn't obese or terriblly out of shape. You can't see my abs. My stomach is failry flat, and I do have some slight love handles on me.. don't like them but they are there for now.

You are complaining of 14%?? You can because you are a fit individual. But look at what it takes to obtain and keep that alone. The average person is not willing to micro manage their daily intake of food. Count calories in protien, fat and carbs? No a healthy individual in my mind is anyone 16-22% any less than 16 he is very athlectic and diet oriented. Any more than 22 and he needs to either watch the fast food or at least start exercising.

Just my 2 cents on the subject.

 

[EarWax]

I agree Pitboss. Trying to establish what is a "healthy" weight or bodyfat percentage for a large population is fruitless. If ya feel good Pitboss, then you probably are healthy.

 

[jimcarre]

Well im 18 and i recently calculated my body fat through http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/becker11.htm ,
the results were not pleasing, (21%) I suppose that makes me a bigger lover of burgers then dieting but im still pleased with it, i've recently reduced 25 pounds.

 

[Mudge]

Originally posted by Pitboss
Mudge I'm not understanding you... are you saying that in my pic from last July I am unhealthy??? For 34 years old and a crappy diet I think I look better than 90% of the male population for my age group. At 5'9 and 181 in that picture. Body fat % doesn't mean squat. If I was to go by the charts I should have only weighed 155-160lbs to be considered healthy.

Dead weight means alot to me, so I do believe it means squat. Looks don't mean a whole lot to be, because they can be deceiving. I have heard of a runner, who used to eat mayonaise on just about everything, supposedly he died in church at only 30 something. He ran something like 5 miles every morning, but had clogged arteries thanks to his wonderous diet.

I think the standard sucks, just as our school system standard. I hate carrying dead weight.

I'm not saying you don't look better than 220 pound women truck drivers that make up 55%-60% of the overweight population in the US, but that doesn't make it any better IMO. I don't compare myself to someone else, I'm here to improve myself not be just 5% leaner than the regular Joe and only be at risk of dying at 57 instead of 54, thats pathetic.

I'm not calling you out at all, that was the information I was given, and for myself its a good rule. Many fat people do have the ability to live long lives, weather due to living with a relaxed attitude, that + genetics and other things, who knows. I've come down to that 14.x% from something like 20.5% just few months ago, so I'm coming along - but I still would love to be around 8-10% for the rest of my years.

People if anything should lose weight as they get older, not fatter. I believe there is more evidence to support this than getting fatter as being acceptable, but of course since we can pump ourselves full of drugs legally to treat us, the standard can be lowered, and we can continue to support the twinkie building economy.