What is the average males body fat percentage

Most people can achieve this level by following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for exercise. Aim for minutes of moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise and two, total-body strength training sessions per week. Maintaining this body fat percentage should keep you healthy and energized, and you'll look healthy, but not especially lean or fit.

In men, a lower body fat of between 13 and 17 percent represents a solid fitness level. You can maintain this percentage fairly easily, and it can boost your health, reducing your risk for metabolic disturbances and heart disease.

You may need to exercise more than the minimum recommended by the CDC, however, and focus on lifestyle choices such as limiting stress and getting a fair amount of sleep. Most men can maintain this level with a balanced diet that minimizes refined grains and sugar, while emphasizing lean protein, whole grains and vegetables.

Athletes tend to maintain a fat percentage between 6 and 13 percent. If you're in the higher end of this range -- 10 to 12 percent fat -- you'll have a fit appearance and -- once exercise and sensible eating become habitual, you'll be able to maintain these lifestyle choices fairly easily. Maintaining a body fat percentage from 6 to 9 percent is more challenging and requires specific training. You may have an obvious six-pack, but you'll work hard in the gym and in the kitchen to achieve it.

Attaining a body fat level that's below 6 percent is possible but quite challenging for men. You've probably spotted Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis scales in your local health club; they use electrical currents to measure your body fat and often a wealth of other things, too: muscle mass, water, bone mass, etc. Calipers are handheld devices used, quite literally, to pinch and measure your fat in different areas with a calculation that determines your body fat levels.

The accuracy really depends how well-trained the person using them is — for this reason, they can be a little hit and miss. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. Related Story. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below.

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