Bodycomp News & Views Issue#28 July 2012

In this issue:

  1. Body fat distribution
  2. ACSM body fat standards
American College of Sports Medicine body fat standards:

 

Men under the age of 40

Fitness 5-15%

Low disease risk 8-22%

Obesity >22%


Men over the age of 40

Fitness 7-18%

Low disease risk 10-25%

Obesity >25%

 

Women under the age of 40

Fitness 16-28%

Low disease risk 20-35%

Obesity >35%

 

Women over the age of 40

Fitness 20-33%

Low disease risk 25-38%

Obesity >38%

Body Fat Distribution:


There are many peculiar words thrown around to describe the fat distribution patterns seen on humans. My least favourite combination is apple versus pear - neither of these sound particularly appealing. The technical names are android and gynoid distribution patterns. Android fat is that which is located above the waistline and up to the neck. Men are more predisposed to store excess fat here via a combination of genetic and hormonal expression. Fat stored in the android region is also more associated with metabolic disease risks including diabetes, heart disease and many cancers. This is because android fat is composed of both the normal subcutaneous fat found just under your skin and the deep visceral fat mass that is more associated with disease and is harder to burn off.

The gynoid region refers to fat storage that occurs just below the pelvis, often referred to as the lower-booty region. Despite the glares that I frequently receive from clients discussing the weight of the fat occupying this area, this is actually a preferred area of fat storage from a health perspective.

As a body composition clinician, I am able to make some unique observations of my client population. Individuals that minimize wheat and sugars in their diets tend to have significantly less abdominal fat. Clients that don't drink beer in large volumes also tend to have less belly fat. This is not rocket science, but the change in our personal fat storage is so subtle and gradual it can seem like an enigma. Anything that loads up your liver with more calories that it can readily process will aggravate this problem. Fructose, the healthy sounding fruit sugar, is particularly bad for this. Combine the fructose metabolism taking place only in the liver with an ever increasing cascade of fructose via juice, sport drinks, protein bars, "healthy" cereals, condiments and the like and it's not surprising that our bodies are storing more fat than ever.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081209221742.htm