Definition of Percent Body Fat

Definition of Percent Body Fat is the Amount of Body Fat You have In Relation to Your Total Body Weight

There are many ways to measure your percent body fat. Once you determine your body fat percentage you can figure out how much your body fat is stored throughout your body. The Definition of percent body fat tells you nothing about where the body fat is primarily stored. It does give you a good starting point to begin a fitness program and track your progress.

Your Body has Fat for 2 primary Reasons

Essential Body Fat

Most likely you have not heard about essential body fat. Essential body fat is required for life. Essential body fat is the fat which our body needs for normal functioning. It is stored in the bone marrow, major organs, intestines, muscles and tissues of the central nervous system (brain & spinal cord.)

The definition of percent body fat includes essential body fat which accounts for 10-12% of total body fat for females and 3-4% for males. Women have more essential body fat compared to men due to hormonal and child bearing issues.

Storage Body Fat

This is the fat we all want to lose. Our bodies store fat for energy as triglycerides. Groups of fat cells form adipose tissue which is primarily located subcutaneously (under the skin.) You have a preset, genetically determined number of fat cells. These cells have a virtually limitless size. Hyperplasia, or multiplying of fat cells has never been proven to exist.

Where our body stores the majority of body fat is in our genetic coding. The average person's percent of body fat accounts for a very large energy source. Remember a gram of fat burned is 9 calories of energy. This means a pound of body fat is 3500 calories of energy.

Any excess calories we consume can be converted to body fat. This includes excess calories from dietary fat, protein, carbohydrates or alcohol.

Where does all this Body Fat Come From?

The average person's percent of body fat accounts for a very large energy source. Remember a gram of fat burned is 9 calories of energy. This means a pound of body fat is 3500 calories of energy.

Any excess calories we consume can be converted to body fat. This includes excess calories from dietary fat, protein, carbohydrates or alcohol.

The Definition of Percent Body Fat Tells your More Than Just Your Body Fat.

If you know the definition of percent body fat you can use some simple math to easily determine your lean body mass or muscle mass. If you don't feel like dusting off that old calculator check out the fitness tools page.

Your lean mass is your muscles, body water, bones, and all other material which is not body fat. To have more lean body mass means your will have a higher metabolism, and burn more calories during the day at rest.

Take note, the definition of percent body fat tells you nothing about bone mass. Almost all body fat measurements use 2 compartment analysis. This means they estimate your fat, and everything else. A 3 compartment analysis will accurately estimate your bone mass, muscle mass, and body fat.