Functionality
Low body fat
Age
percentage
6–12
13–19
20–39
40–59
60 and older
Athlete
Body water
About 60% of an adult's body is made up of water. This varies according to certain
factors: older people have a lower water level than younger people, and men have a
higher water level than women. The difference between men and women is based on
a women's higher body fat mass. The majority of the body water is found in the fat-free
mass (73% of the fat-free mass is water) and the water content of fat tissue is naturally
very low (around 10% of fat tissue is water). When the body fat ratio is high, the body
water ratio falls automatically. A 5% loss of water can reduce body energy by 20–30%.
Drink at least 8 cups of liquid every day.
Normal percentage of body water
Child
Adult
Athlete
In general, athletes have 5% more body water. With increasing age, the amount of water
falls by around 10%.
12
Normal body fat
percentage
< 7
< 8
< 9
< 11
< 13
13–24
Female
> 58
> 52
> 56
Male
High body fat
percentage
7–18
8–19
9–20
11–22
3–15
Very high body
fat percentage
18–25
19–25
20–26
22–28
24–30
Male
> 60
> 58
> 60
> 25
> 25
> 26
> 28
> 30