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Body fat · Women

Is 39% body fat good for a woman?

39% is in the obese category on the ACE chart for women (32% and over). On the ranges researchers matched to BMI, it is in the obese range at ages 20 to 39 and in the overweight range at ages 40 to 79. It is leaner than about 44 in 100 US women aged 20 to 39 in the CDC survey.

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Category (ACE) · Women

Obese

  1. Essential fat 10 to 13%
  2. Athletes 14 to 20%
  3. Fitness 21 to 24%
  4. Average 25 to 31%
  5. Obese 39% 32% and over

Source: American Council on Exercise

At a glance

39% by age

Healthy range by age

Outside the healthy range

  • Ages 20 to 39Obese range
  • Ages 40 to 59Overweight range
  • Ages 60 to 79Overweight range

Source: Gallagher et al., 2000

Compared with US women

Leaner than about 44 in 100 at ages 20 to 39

  • Ages 20 to 39 (average 37.8%)Leaner than about 44 in 100
  • Ages 40 to 59 (average 40.5%)Leaner than about 61 in 100
  • Ages 60 to 79 (average 42.4%)Leaner than about 74 in 100

Source: CDC, NHANES 1999 to 2004

What it looks like

What 39% body fat looks like

39% sits between the 35% and 40% levels. Generated illustrations, not photos of real people.

Questions

39% body fat, answered

  • Is 39% body fat good for a woman?

    39% falls in the obese category on the American Council on Exercise chart for women. On the ranges researchers matched to BMI, it is in the obese range at ages 20 to 39 and in the overweight range at ages 40 to 79.

  • Is 39% body fat overweight or obese for a woman?

    The ACE chart for women starts the obese category at 32%, so 39% is in it. On the ranges researchers matched to BMI, overweight starts at 33% and obese at 39% for ages 20 to 39; 34% and 40% for 40 to 59; 36% and 42% for 60 to 79.

  • How does 39% compare with the average woman?

    In the CDC's national survey, 39% was leaner than about 44 in 100 US women aged 20 to 39, leaner than about 61 in 100 aged 40 to 59 and leaner than about 74 in 100 aged 60 to 79. The averages for those ages were 37.8%, 40.5% and 42.4%.

  • What does 39% body fat look like on a woman?

    It sits between the 35% and 40% levels, which are shown in the pictures on this page. The same number looks different on different bodies, because of muscle, height, age and where fat is stored.

Body fat chart for womenAverage body fat by ageBody fat calculator

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