The scientific word for bodily fat is "adipose tissue." Fatty tissue serves several vital roles. Its principal function is to store lipids, from which the body derives energy. It also secretes vital hormones and acts as a cushion and insulation for the body.
Body fat consists of both necessary and stored fat. Essential body fat is a basic type of fat found in most body regions. It is a crucial lipid that supports life and reproductive activities. The amount of essential fat varies by gender, with men typically having 2-5% and women having 10-13%. The healthy range of body fat for men is commonly regarded as 8-19%, while for women it is 21-33%. While excess body fat can have many negative effects on a person's health, insufficient body fat can also have negative health effects, and maintaining a body fat percentage below, or even within, the essential body fat percentage range should be discussed with a doctor
Storage fat accumulates in adipose tissue, whether it is subcutaneous fat (deep beneath the dermis and wrapped around important organs) or visceral fat (fat placed within the abdominal cavity and between organs), generally referred to as body fat. While some stored fat is beneficial, excessive quantities can have major negative health consequences
Excess body fat causes overweight and, eventually, obesity if insufficient efforts are made to reduce rising body fat. It's important to note that being overweight does not always imply having too much body fat. Various characteristics, such as body fat, muscle, bone density, and water content, determine a person's body weight. As a result, people with a lot of muscle are frequently considered overweight.
The rate at which body fat accumulates varies from person to person and is influenced by various factors, including genetics and behavioral factors such as inactivity and overeating. Certain people may have difficulty losing abdominal fat due to multiple causes. However, balancing food and exercise has been demonstrated to help reduce stored fat. Both men and women retain body fat differently, which may vary over time. Reduced sexual hormones around the age of 40 (or menopause in some circumstances for women) can cause excess body fat around the stomach in men and the buttocks and thighs in women.
Obesity is classified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the main preventable causes of mortality globally, accounting for 111,909 to 365,000 deaths in the United States per year. This has become a rising source of concern, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classified 36.5% of US people as obese.
Obesity is linked to a lower quality of life, poorer mental health outcomes, obstructive sleep apnea, and several leading causes of death around the world, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, specific malignancies, and diabetes. All of these potential problems have the potential to shorten a person's life expectancy, making obesity a medical disease under investigation by many researchers.
As previously said, fat creates several important hormones influencing a person's body. An excess or deficiency of essential hormones might have detrimental consequences that prevent healthy bodily function. On a similar topic, research has shown that extra body fat, particularly abdominal fat, impairs certain hormones' natural balance and function. Furthermore, body fat, particularly visceral fat, functions in releasing certain cytokines, which are a broad class of proteins involved in cell signaling and may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Visceral fat is also linked to higher LDL cholesterol levels, reduced HDL cholesterol, and insulin resistance. LDL cholesterol is often called "bad cholesterol," whereas HDL is known as "good cholesterol." High amounts of LDL cholesterol can clog arteries, causing issues such as heart attacks. Insulin resistance occurs when cells do not respond correctly to the hormone insulin, which can lead to elevated blood sugar levels and, eventually, type 2 diabetes. As can be seen, extra visceral fat can significantly harm a person's health.
There are numerous particular procedures for assessing body fat. Hodgdon and Beckett created an equation-based technique at the Naval Health Research Centre in 1984 using the above calculator. The method for measuring the relevant bodily components, as well as the specific equations employed, are described below:
Measure the subject's waist circumference horizontally around the navel for men and at the level with the least breadth for women. To get precise measures, ensure the patient is not pulling their stomach inwards.
Measure the circumference of the subject's neck from below the larynx, sloping downhill to the front. The individual should avoid extending their neck outward.
For ladies only. Measure the circumference of the subject's hips at the widest horizontal point.
Once these measures are acquired, use the methods below to estimate body fat. Two equations are supplied, one using the United States Customary System (USC), which utilizes inches, and the other using the International System of Units, especially the centimeter.
USC Units: BFP = 86.010×log10(abdomen-neck) - 70.041×log10(height) + 36.76 SI Metric Units:
BFP = 495 (1.0324) - 0.19077×log10 (waist-neck) + 0.15456×log10 (height).
USC Units: BFP = 163.205×log10(waist+hip-neck) - 97.684×(log10(height)) - 78.387 SI Metric Units: BFP = 495 1.29579 - 0.35004×log10(waist+hip-neck) + 0.22100×log10(height) - 450
It is important to note that the results of these calculations are simply estimates because they are based on various assumptions to be as applicable to as many individuals as possible. Instruments such as bioelectric impedance analysis or hydrostatic density testing are required for more precise body fat readings.
The fat mass (FM) formula is:
FM = BF x Weight.
The Lean Mass (LM) formula:
LM = Weight minus FM
Another approach for estimating body fat percentage is to utilize BMI. The BMI Calculator provides an estimate of BMI for use with the BMI technique and more information on how BMI is calculated, as well as its implications and limits. To summarise, BMI is calculated using formulas that require a person's height and weight measurements. Given BMI, the following formulas can calculate a person's body fat percentage.
The calculation for adult male body fat percentage (BFP) is as follows:
BFP = 1.20 × BMI + 0.23 × Age – 16.2
The calculation for adult female body fat percentage (BFP) is:
BFP = 1.20 × BMI + 0.23 × Age – 5.4
The formula for calculating body fat percentage (BFP) in boys:
BFP: 1.51 x BMI - 0.70 x Age - 2.2.
Body fat percentage (BFP) formula for females:
BFP: 1.51 x BMI - 0.70 x Age + 1.4.