The widely used BMI is not a very accurate indicator of fitness as it does not account for a higher muscle mass.
When you exercise regularly and eat a good balanced diet, your body loses fat and builds lean muscle. Even if your weight remains constant over a period of time, the body fat percentage definitely drops.
What are ideal body fat % levels :
The below source is from Wikipedia
"Different authorities have developed different recommendations for ideal body fat percentages, such as these from the American Council on Exercise"
| Description | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Essential fat | 10-13% | 2-5% |
| Athletes | 14-20% | 6-13% |
| Fitness | 21-24% | 14-17% |
| Average | 25-31% | 18-24% |
| Obese | 32%+ | 25%+ |
17% +/-2 for men.
What sort of body fat levels are required for a six pack?
A LOT of gym goers want those highly desired 6 pack abs. Who doesn't? But it comes for a price.
If you can maintain body fat % levels of under 6% then you will get those rockhard abs you so desire!
The link below is a good indicator of what your body would look like at different stages of body fat percentage.
http://www.naturalphysiques.com/cms/index.php?itemid=144
How much fat is necessary?
Women are said to require about 12% body fat whereas men require about 3% at least to stay healthy. Levels lower than that affect your essential body fat stores and are not good for your health.
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