Many people are hung up on the number on the scale but your weight only gives you a general idea of your real health. Your waist measure, which should measure 1/2 of your height or less, taken snuggly at your belly button, and your body fat percentage are the real indications of health. Your body fat percentage can only be determined using water immersion, skinfold measures, a special x-ray test and electronic impedance. I use a tanita scale which has electronic impedance to measure body fat. You stand on the scale and a small electrical current passes through the body and measures the impedance or the resistance to the electrical flow. Lean tissue is a good conductor of electric current but fat is not so the more resistance to the current the higher proportion of fat tissue in the body.
I have had clients that are nearly 50% body fat. That is clearly too high, but actually, most people are well above their ideal body fat percentage. The chart below from the book, Take a Load off Your Heart, shows the ideal percentage. Where do you think you are?
AGE Women Men
20 to 29 19% 12%
30 to 39 20% 16%
40 to 49 23% 18%
50 to 59 26% 19%
60+ 27% 20%
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