Body fat consists of essential body fat and storage fat. Essential body fat is present in the nerve tissues, bone marrow, and organs (all membranes), and we cannot lose this fat
without compromising physiological function. Storage fat, on the other hand, represents an energy reserve that accumulates when excess energy is ingested and decreases when more energy is expended than consumed. Essential body fat is approximately 3% of body mass for men and 12% of body mass for women. Women are believed to have more essential body fat than men because of childbearing and hormonal functions. In general, the total body fat percentage (essential plus storage fat) is between 12%
and 15% for young men and between 25% and 28% for young women {Lohman, 1993 #4151} (see also table 13.1). Average percentages body fat for the general population and for various athletes are presented in table 13.2. Table 13.1 Body fat percentages for males and females and their classification Males Females Rating 5-10 8-15 Athletic 11-14 16-23 Good 15-20 24-30 Acceptable 21-24 31-36 Overweight >24 >37 Obese Please keep in mind that these are only rough estimates. The term athletic in this context refers to sports where low body fat is an advantage. Different sports have different requirements in terms of body composition. In some contact sports such as American football or rugby, a higher body weight is generally seen as an advantage. In sports such as gymnastics, marathon running, and other weight-bearing activities, a lower body weight and high
power-to-weight ratio are extremely important. Therefore, in these sports both low body fat and low body weight are necessary. In sports such as bodybuilding, increasing lean-body mass and increasing body weight without increasing body fat are desirable. No accepted percentage body fat standards exist for athletes. The ideal body composition is highly dependent on the particular sport or discipline and should be discussed on an individual basis with the coach, physiologist, and nutritionist or
dietician. Body weight and body composition should be discussed in relation to functional capacity and exercise performance. Table 13.2A Body fat percentage for the average population
Table 13.2B Body fat percentage for the athletic population
Learn more about Sport Nutrition, Second Edition. What is the percentage of body weight that is made up of fat?In general, the total body fat percentage (essential plus storage fat) is between 12% and 15% for young men and between 25% and 28% for young women {Lohman, 1993 #4151} (see also table 13.1). Average percentages body fat for the general population and for various athletes are presented in table 13.2.
What is the percentage of body mass in comparison to body fat?The percentage of total body mass that is lean is usually not quoted – it would typically be 60–90%. Instead, the body fat percentage, which is the complement, is computed, and is typically 10–40%.
Is the percentage of body fat compared to lean body tissue?The better measurement is body composition. Your body composition is the ratio of lean tissue to fat tissue. A healthy body composition ranges from 90% lean tissue and 10% body fat to 70% lean tissue and 30% body fat. Athletes' body fat typically ranges from 8% to 22%.
What percentage of the body's weight is made up of muscular tissue?Skeletal muscle is one of the most dynamic and plastic tissues of the human body. In humans, skeletal muscle comprises approximately 40% of total body weight and contains 50-75% of all body proteins.
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