Ideal Percentage Body Fat

[madfencer]

Hoping one of the S&C guys or a nutritionist can help out here...

So, i'm getting my body fat percentage calculated soon as part of the fire services ocupational health program for work. I was wondering what the ideal body fat percentage would be for a female fencer (epeeist) who is around 5 foot 4. I've tried looking online but all the information I can find has been for the more main stream sports. If you need more info i'm 23 years old.

Sorry if this has been asked elsewhere, would just like to know what I need to be aiming for!

Thanks,

madfencer

[Nick_C]

I assume no-one has answered because there is no such 'ideal' anything - how would you even measure this anyway? On top of this, fencing is as you imply, not a mainstream sport, and therefore there is very little evidence base for anything we do.

To illustrate: there are tall women epee world champions, there are short epee world champions. They could have a body fat percentage of 5% or 30%.

It's not your body fat percentage that will win fights. There are much more important things - as i'm sure you appreciate.

[CornishEpeeist]

female fencer (epeeist) who is around 5 foot 4.


If you need more info i'm 23 years old.


madfencer

If this is who i think this is:
Shouldnt you be recovering not worrying about your body fat pecentage?! Seeing as you cant walk or anything?
Naughty

[Bongo]

I don't think 5% body fat is healthy for anyone.

[hokers]

I don't think 5% body fat is healthy for anyone.

That would be OK for a male professional boxer the week before a fight.

[Honeybadger]

Biologist to the rescue!

Like people said, it depends what you're aiming at. For women, the accepted 'comfortable' level is somewhere between 25-30%, but for athletes it gets a bit more complicated depending on the level of activity. For example, female olympians are probably around the 10% mark, which is the bare minimum before your doctor starts telling you off. (for men its 2%, considering... anatomical differences) As a recreational athlete, you probably want to be aiming for 13-24%.

[Bongo]

A woman at 10% body fat would be infertile. An female athlete would be more like 20%

[Honeybadger]

A woman at 10% body fat would be infertile. An female athlete would be more like 20%

I suppose that would depend on whether the athlete in question wanted to conceive. 20% is skinny, but still more padding than a sprinter or swimmer would want.

[MatFink]

Body Fat % is a very poor correlation for fencing performance.

There a far more important and relevant physical factors.

@Madfencer - you are in Newcastle either Su Stewart or through her Mick Wilkinson could tell you far more about this whole area than you are likely to glean from the forum.

[Bongo]

I suppose that would depend on whether the athlete in question wanted to conceive. 20% is skinny, but still more padding than a sprinter or swimmer would want.

I've been told that 20% is what a female athlete would want. 23% being enough for a woman to look athletic.

[Rudd]

Body composition of elite American athletes (Abstract only) Lots of variation dependant on the demand of the sport.

Physiological Profile of National-Class National Collegiate Athletic Association Fencers (Abstract Only) "These data suggest that success in fencing may depend more on technique, speed, and agility as opposed to a high aerobic capacity and low percent body fatness."

Body fat assessment in women. Special considerations. (Abstract Only)

[Honeybadger]

Hmm, maybe i misinterpreted a few things then. Can anyone find anything on how age affects the question?

[madfencer]

If this is who i think this is:
Shouldnt you be recovering not worrying about your body fat pecentage?! Seeing as you cant walk or anything?
Naughty

Hadn't had knee op at the time of my post (yes it is who you think it is).

Was just intrigued with having a work health check which included it.

[madfencer]

Thanks for the replies guys. I think if I remember correctly I was 23%, so a bit too high for my liking.

[enna23]

Hoping one of the S&C guys or a nutritionist can help out here...

So, i'm getting my body fat percentage calculated soon as part of the fire services ocupational health program for work. I was wondering what the ideal buy waist trimmer percentage would be for a female fencer (epeeist) who is around 5 foot 4. I've tried looking online but all the information I can find has been for the more main stream sports. If you need more info i'm 23 years old.

Sorry if this has been asked elsewhere, would just like to know what I need to be aiming for!

Thanks,

madfencer

Hello,
You can used to calculate body fat percentage by "BOD Pod" machine .And through BMI also you can check your body scale .

[davidcli]

The one major fitness goal of many people now is to 'get lean' that means to reduce body fat and expose shredded muscles.

To get into such shape your primary focus should be on decreasing your body fat percentage. There is no point in going to the gym while keeping the fat layer untouched, as your abs will be securely covered under the padding of fat.

Body fat percentage is also a good indicator of your health and keeping it under control can reduce the risk of numerous medical conditions.

Being underweight and having body fat percentage too low is also not ideal as your body needs an essential amount of body fat.

It is important to know and understand the biomechanics of weight loss and difference between essential fat and stored fat.