Is 15% body fat considered fat? What is the normal range?

We often hear people say their body fat percentage is X, which actually refers to body fat percentage from a professional perspective. Many men have a result of around 15% after testing, so does this result prove that they are fatter? And what is the normal range of body fat percentage?

Men's body fat percentage and body shape characteristics:

4%~6% The gluteus maximus develops striations (the ideal competitive state for bodybuilders).

7%~9% Back muscles are exposed, and the abdominal muscles and external oblique muscles are more clearly divided (competitive state of bodybuilders).

(10%~18% is the ideal body fat percentage for men)

10%~12% of the body fat is not loose, and the abdominal muscles are clearly divided.

13%~15% The fat in all parts of the body is basically not loose, the abdominal muscles begin to appear, and the division is not obvious.

16%~18% of the body fat is in the waist and abdomen, which are loose and the abdominal muscles are not visible.

19%~21% The abdominal muscles are not visible and the waist circumference is usually 81~85 cm.

22%~24% The abdominal muscles are not visible and the waist circumference is usually 86~90 cm.

25%~27% The abdominal muscles are not visible and the waist circumference is usually 91~95 cm.

28%~30% The abdominal muscles are not visible and the waist circumference is usually 96~100 cm.

More than 31% have no visible abdominal muscles and their waist circumference is usually over 101 cm.

Normal range

The body fat percentage of normal adults is 15%~18% for men and 25%~28% for women. The body fat percentage should be kept within the normal range. If the body fat percentage is too high, and the weight exceeds the normal value by more than 20%, it can be considered obese. Obesity indicates insufficient exercise, excess nutrition or some endocrine system disease, and is often complicated by hypertension, hyperlipidemia, arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease, diabetes, cholecystitis and other symptoms; if the body fat percentage is too low, below the safe lower limit of body fat content, that is, 5% for men and 13%~15% for women, it may cause functional disorders.

Males 14-20% 17-23% 25% or more.