Whats the lowest amount of body fat you can have and still be healthy?

Answer 1

That question is impossible to Answer......
The Variables are innumerous, and all have to be taken into account to arrive at the answer.

What is pleasant to the eye? 2%, 5%,10% ?

There are several websites available that give Medical advice, I would stay away from those that are not approved by The American Medical Association(AMA).

Consider this, the Fat Tissue in the Body is used for the storage of Energy, so that in times of Drought, or Famine we don't starve immeadiately.

If as your question implies you are one of those millions of Americans that has jumped on the Band Wagon, and are truly worried about your weight. Then it is time to make changes in your diet, and Exercise Regimen.

Consult your Doctor, and follow his advice. A lot can be done simply through the reduction of Caloric Intake.
A moderate Exercise Regimen like simply taking a walk around the block at even a relatively slow pace does burn energy, and requires the body to burn fat to get it.

There is an inverese relationship, between the consumption of Sugar, and Starches(Carbohydrates), and The expenditure of Stored Energy in Fat Tissue. Reduce consumption of Sugar, and the body has no choice but to go to Fat Storage for the Energy it needs to continue Daily Operations.

Your Doctor could better explain the energy needs for your body. There is a given number of Calories that is need for the maint. of Muscle Mass. Do not go below this number, or the Body Mass Index (BMI) is thrown out the window.

You also need to remember that there is a need for Body outside of the need for Energy storage. One of the components of Body Fat is Cholesterol, and this used to by the body to build Mylin sheaths which protect the Nerves and helps conduct Nuerological Impulses between the brain, and the rest of the body.

Need further info, or if this was helpful please let me know.

Later!
Robert, LVN = Nurse

Answer 2

Amount Of Body Fat

Answer 3

Most (if not all) professionals agree that the human body requires a certain amount of fat for good health. Fat helps regulate body temperature, store energy, and cushion and insulate organs. The percentage of body weight that makes up this "essential fat" is around 4% of body weight for men and 10% for women. Beyond that, there's a somewhat wide range of what is considered a "healthy" percentage of body fat.

The American Dietetic Association recommends that men have 15-18% body fat and women have 20-25% body fat. Healthy male athletes might be as low as 5-12% body fat, and healthy female athletes could be as low as 10-20%.

The American Council on Exercise and says men's body fat should be 6-25%, and women's should be 14-31%.

These numbers should be good for you to get a good idea of what your range should be and still be healthy. In case you're interested in where you stand, below is a link for an online body fat calculator that uses the U.S. Navy Circumference Method. Don't get hung up on a single number unless it is far above or below the above-mentioned ranges. The difference of a few percentage points one way or the other means nothing because the "calculators" are all just estimates.

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Whats the lowest amount of body fat you can have and still be healthy?

Answer 5

I loved to play ball, and for the first time in my life, I'm actually useful, at a ballgame, instead of just a big stationary person, that maybe if the ball comes within this range, I might get it. I was wearing-I'd always wore XX kind of jersey. And then I went down to medium. And then the medium was too big, that it's coming down here.

So I'm wearing a rockin' outfit, and I'm making a play, and the guy stops, beans it in the face 'cause he says, "Look at your body. You're rockin' hard." And that was the first time I had ever gotten a compliment like that in my whole life.

Answer 6

For a female, you should never drop below 9% body fat (this was told to me by a physiologist) If u do this puts strain on ur muscles which may get burned for energy, & even ur heart could be in danger. Many body-fat measurers are dodgy so if u want to know get it done somewhere with sport science facilities. Don't obsess about your weight, & bear in mind that most women have around 25% body fat.

Answer 7

For women to maintain a regular body chemical balance they should have between 11 and 12.5% bodyfat. I just went through a huge medical fiasco with my body because i dropped to 7% bodyfat training for triathlon last year. It completely screwed up my body and made me very sick. I ended up having to step away from training altogether due to imbalances in my body. It was not fun. I learned a lot about body fat ratio and BMI during that time. You would have to ask your doctor or training for the number that's best for YOU and I suggest you stay within that range and avoid dropping below it to avoid a health risk!

Good luck!

Answer 8

My dad had about 4% body fat in college, the running coaches said he would be perfect for track. That's around the best place to be for a male athlete.

Answer 9

For females, it varies. Essential body fat for women is 10%-13%, but some women lose their periods if they go under 18% body fat.

You need to be careful. I wouldn't recommend going under 14% body fat and that is only if you have enough lean mass to support this.

HTH : )

Answer 10

Bake a healthy breakfast before hand to ensure you don't grab a sugary scone busy.