Body fat chart by age
Healthy body fat rises gradually with age, and women naturally carry more than men. This chart shows the ranges published by Gallagher et al. (2000), based on the body fat that corresponds to a healthy BMI in each age group.
From the body fat calculator, a smart scale or a DEXA scan.
20–39 years
18.0%
Healthy
At 35, 18.0% body fat is in the “Healthy” range for men.
| Age | Male · Healthy | Male · Obese | Female · Healthy | Female · Obese |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20–39 years | 8–20% | ≥ 25% | 21–33% | ≥ 39% |
| 40–59 years | 11–22% | ≥ 28% | 23–34% | ≥ 40% |
| 60–79 years | 13–25% | ≥ 30% | 24–36% | ≥ 42% |
How to read the chart
Each row is an age group. The healthy range corresponds to a BMI of 18.5 to 25 for a person of that age and sex, overweight to a BMI of 25 to 30, and obese to a BMI above 30.
The ranges come from reference measurements of more than 1,600 adults of different ethnic backgrounds.
Why body fat increases with age
Muscle mass tends to decline from middle age while fat, especially around the abdomen, tends to increase, even at a stable weight. Strength training and enough protein slow this change.
Sources
- Gallagher D, Heymsfield SB, Heo M, et al. (2000). Healthy percentage body fat ranges: an approach for developing guidelines based on body mass index. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 72(3):694–701.