You may often hear people talk about "body fat percentage", but do you know what it is? Body fat percentage is actually a measure of the amount of fat in the body, which is a more accurate reflection of a person's health status than weight. In this article, we'll dive into the relationship between body fat percentage and health, and how to go beyond a simple scale to assess health.
What is body fat percentage?
Body fat percentage refers to the percentage of adipose tissue in the body, and it consists of two parts: essential fat and stored fat. Essential fats are fats that are necessary to sustain life, including the protection of organs and cells. Stored fat is used to store energy, which is also what we often call "fat".
Why is body fat percentage more important than weight?
Weight is just a number, and it can't distinguish between the different parts of the body that make up it. For example, two people may weigh the same, but one person may have more muscle and the other may have more fat. Therefore, weight does not reflect the proportion of fat in the body. Body fat percentage, on the other hand, is a more accurate reflection of the fat in the body, allowing for a better assessment of health status.
The relationship between body fat percentage and health
A high body fat percentage is associated with many health problems, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and more. Excessively high body fat percentage increases the risk of these diseases, and proper control of body fat percentage can help prevent these health problems from occurring.
How to measure body fat percentage?
There are a variety of methods to measure body fat percentage, including subcutaneous fat measurement, electrical impedance measurement, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Among them, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry is considered to be the most accurate method, but it is more expensive and requires specialized equipment. Other methods, while not as accurate as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, can still provide useful information such as waist circumference, height-to-weight ratio (BMI), etc.
How to reduce body fat percentage?
Lowering your body fat percentage is not an easy thing to do, but it's not impossible either. Here are some ways to reduce your body fat percentage:
Eat a healthy diet: Eat a diet dominated by vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats, and limit the amount of foods high in sugar, fat, and salt.
Moderate exercise: Aerobic exercise and strength training can help boost metabolism and increase muscle mass, which can lead to lower body fat percentage.
Get enough sleep: Lack of sleep can affect hormone secretion and metabolism, increasing body fat percentage. Getting 7-9 hours of sleep per night can help control body fat percentage.
Reduced stress: Long-term stress can lead to hormonal imbalances and increase body fat percentage. Reduce stress through appropriate relaxation and stress-reducing activities.
Conclusion
Body fat percentage is an important health indicator that provides a more accurate picture of the fat in the body. By controlling our body fat percentage, we can reduce our risk of disease and improve our physical health. Therefore, in addition to focusing on weight, we should also pay attention to body fat percentage, so as to assess our health more comprehensively.