?What is a healthy body fat percentage for different age groups

Q. I recently had my body fat measured at the gym, and it was 17%. I’m 62 years old, and aside from high blood pressure, I feel healthy. Is this body fat percentage considered good for someone my age? What’s the best method to measure body fat?

A. There isn't a universally agreed-upon "normal" body fat range or ideal body weight. According to the World Health Organization, for men aged 40 to 59, a body fat percentage of 11% to 21% is recommended, while for men aged 60 to 79, the range is 13% to 24%. However, what’s considered healthy can vary based on several factors:

Overall Health: Very low body fat percentages in individuals who aren’t regularly exercising might indicate a potential health issue.

Fat Distribution: Even if your body fat percentage is within the normal range, a large waist size could indicate excessive visceral fat, which is linked to higher risks of diabetes and heart disease.

Metabolism: How your body processes excess calories affects whether they are stored as fat or used for energy.

Physical Activity: Regular exercise not only burns calories but also continues to burn them post-exercise as muscles recover. Strength training can also build healthy muscle mass.

Instead of relying solely on body fat percentage, consider these additional measurements for a more comprehensive assessment:

Waist Size: There isn’t a definitive "normal" waist size, but men should aim for a waist circumference of no more than 36 inches. For men under six feet tall, a practical guideline is that the waist size should be less than half of your height.

Waist-to-Hip Ratio: To measure this, find your waist size just above your belly button and measure your hips around the widest part. Divide your waist size by your hip size. The target ratio for men is 0.9 or less.

Both waist size and waist-to-hip ratio can provide insight into whether you may have an unhealthy amount of visceral fat.