EBN- Fats are essential nutrients for many functions of the body. They are a source of energy and are responsible for protecting the skeletal system and nerves. The body often stores fats because of their importance in producing energy and warmth.
Fats are divided into several types, including saturated fats, trans fats found in meat and dairy products, and unsaturated fats found in nuts and others.
Methods calculating body fat percentage
Body fat percentage is useful for assessing body composition, as BMI is based solely on height and weight and cannot take into account body composition. As a result, people with large amounts of muscle mass or shorter height may fall into the overweight or obese category, even though they have healthy body fat percentages.” She goes on to list some points about how to calculate body fat percentage:
Body fat percentage is measured in several ways, including simple and practical methods, and others that require a visit to the clinic to use advanced techniques.
There are many methods used to calculate body fat percentage, and some of these methods may require special equipment or expert consultation to obtain accuracy.
It is sometimes possible to estimate the percentage of fat at home by measuring the waist circumference, or by using the Fat Calculator at nutritionists’ clinics.
To use the mathematical method of calculating body fat percentage , or through the electronic fat calculator, you must measure your weight early in the morning before eating in order to avoid fluctuations in the numbers that occur as a result of eating during the day, and then use a soft and flexible tape to collect body measurements such as waist circumference, hip circumference, thigh circumference and other measurements according to what is required when using the electronic fat calculator.
Make sure the tape is snug against the skin so that it does not move, and not too tight to ensure that it does not deviate. Note that measurements are completely different between women and men.
The DEXA test is the most accurate and most common test for measuring body fat percentage , compared to other methods, which may be expensive or inaccurate, followed by the combination of BMI testing with waist circumference measurement.
Body fat percentage
After learning about the methods of calculating the percentage of body fat, learn about the table that shows this percentage in different cases for both women and men:
Fats are naturally present in the body, and each type has a specific function, but their presence in higher than normal proportions increases the risk of many chronic diseases. The percentage of fat in the body also depends on your age, gender, and the amount of physical activity you do.
We tend to call all body fats fats, although there are several types of them, each of which has a specific function in the body. Some fats have a negative effect on health, while others are important and necessary for the organs to perform their functions.
The most prominent types of fat in the body are white fat, brown fat, and beige fat, and each type is stored in the body in the form of essential fat, subcutaneous fat, or visceral fat:
White fat: This is the largest part of the fat stored under the skin, or in the form of visceral fat, which surrounds the organs in the abdomen, arms, buttocks and thighs.
Brown fat: This is the type that is mainly found in children.
Beige fat: This is the type that burns fat instead of storing it.
Body Mass Index
Body Mass Index is a simple calculation that uses a person’s height and weight as follows: BMI = weight in kg / height in m2.
If the BMI is 25.0 or more, this indicates overweight , while the healthy range is between 18.5 – 24.9. This BMI applies to most adults between the ages of 18 and 65, except for pregnant women and athletes.
Measuring body fat percentage in addition to BMI is the best way to assess a person’s body composition. Previously, it was difficult to measure body fat mass, leading to reliance on BMI. However, the availability of non-invasive methods to assess body fat , such as bioelectrical impedance assessment (BIA) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), has made this easier.
