Health and Fitness Information Center

A Step Toward A Healthier Life - Step 1

• Health Topics

• Asthma/Allergies
• Blood Pressure
• Blood Testing
• Body Fat Measuring
• Breast Exam
• Breastfeeding
• Cholesterol
• Defibrillator
• Diabetes
• Family Health
• Fitness
• Nutrition
• Safety
• Stress
• Thermometry
• Weight Control

Take the First Step
Figure your body fat, compare it to recommended ranges, and set realistic goals for improvement.

Assess Your Body
Being overfat, or obese, has health risks. Obesity causes or aggravates a wide range of health problems from high blood pressure, to arthritis, to certain forms of cancer. The good news is that weight loss--actually body fat loss--can help prevent or control the development of many of these diseases.

It's fat, not weight, that is a problem. Fit people come in all weights, sizes and shapes. Standard height-weight charts and Body Mass Index charts (BMI), that relate height and weight, may be misleading. Many experts believe that percentage of body fat is a better measure of physical fitness than weight alone.

A person who is "overweight" according to height-weight charts does not necessarily have too much fat. The extra weight may be due to an above-average amount of muscle.

On the other hand, a person can be "overfat" even if they are not overweight, if they have too much fat in proportion to the muscle in their body. Figuring your fat can tell you if you are truly "overfat".

Body Fat Measurement and Monitoring
Until recently, measuring and monitoring body fat has been a complicated process. The most common methods required a trained technician, expensive equipment or uncomfortable procedures. As a result, it was not convenient for people to monitor their body fat on a regular basis, nor in the privacy of their own home.

Recommended Body Fat Ranges
Once you have determined your body fat percentage, compare it to recommended healthy ranges:

If you're already in a healthy range--congratulations and keep up the good work! Whether your weight remains the same or fluctuates over time, regular body fat monitoring can give you a more complete picture of your own body's fitness. It also can indicate how changes in your diet or exercise affect your body composition.

If you need to reduce your body fat, a body fat monitor can be a valuable aid to help you track the results of your fitness program as you "Step It Up".