Definition: Absolute fat refers to the actual weight of your body fat. We usually refer to body fat as a percentage of your total weight. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds and your body fat percentage is 19%, that means you have 28.5 pounds of fat in your body. Healthy body fat ranges include:
For women:
10-12% - essential fat
14-20% - an athletic body fat range
21-24% - a healthy, fit body range
25-31% - acceptable
32% or more - obese
For men:
2-4% - essential
6-13% - an athletic body fat range
14-17% - a healthy, fit body range
18-25% - acceptable
26% or more - obese
More about body fat calculations.
