Tatyana
Elite Mentor
Here is a list of bodyfat percentages from Tom Venuto (bodybuilder)
Men:
Contest bodybuilder: 3-5%
Extremely lean: 6-9%
Lean: 10-15%
Average Male: 16-20%
Poor: 20-25%
Very Poor: 25%+
Women:
Fitness model/bodybuilder: 8-11%
Extremely lean: 12-15%
Lean: 16-19%
Average female: 20-25%
Poor: 25-29%
Very Poor: 30%+
And from Wiki (American council on Exercise)
Women
Essential fat 12–15%
Athletes 16–20%
Fitness 21–24%
Acceptable 25–31%
Obese 32%+
Men
Essential fat 2–5%
Athletes 6–13%
Fitness 14–17%
Acceptable 18–25%
Obese 25%+
There does seem to be a few percentage difference for what is considered essential body fat for women.
What I think they mean by essential bodyfat for women is what women need for reproductive health, under this amount of bodyfat, and women stop menstrating.
I know for me it is around 10-12%.
So, if you strip fat like a bodybuilder, which means feeding the muscle and burning the fat, not by starving yourself, do you think it is healthy or unhealthy to take your bodyfat to the 10% or sub 10% range for a few months?
Discuss