Common body-fat % ranges by sex. Different methods (DEXA / BIA scale / US Navy / calipers) disagree—use ranges and trends, not a single number.
| Range | Body fat % | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | 10–13% | Minimum for basic physiological function (conceptual range). |
| Athlete | 14–20% | |
| Fitness | 21–24% | |
| Average | 25–31% | |
| Very high | 32%+ | Some charts label this as “obese” (not a medical diagnosis). |