low body fat

Hey yall,

I'm trying to gauge my weight loss more by my body fat percentage rather than what the scale says, as I'm an athlete and have more muscle than the average woman my size. Anyway, my question is - what's the lowest body fat percentage that is still considered to be healthy? keep in mind I'm an athlete and want as little body fat as possible, while still remaining healthy (meaning I don't want to lose my period or anything like that). I was thinking 15% sounded reasonable, but I'd love to hear some advice from those of you who are more knowledgeable in this area.

Thanks :)

Elite athletes typically are much lower than what is considered normal range [for women that would be 18-22%] but even that varies depending on the sport. For example, in women tri-athletes, they typically run 10-15% [I am a tri-athlete and am at 15%] but in women basketball players it is around 20-27%. What is your sport?

thanks for the response fitnessgirll. I'm a triathlete as well (a new one!). I'm also running a marathon in October, although I'm a pretty slow runner. Oh, and my current body fat percentage is 18%. So it sounds as though I can lose weight and still be considered healthy.

Yeah, I'm about 15.6% and I'm neither an athlete nor incredibly thin.

 

 

Original Post by fitnessgirll:

Elite athletes typically are much lower than what is considered normal range [for women that would be 18-22%] but even that varies depending on the sport. For example, in women tri-athletes, they typically run 10-15% [I am a tri-athlete and am at 15%] but in women basketball players it is around 20-27%. What is your sport?

Uh, that is medically unsound- a lean (otherwise said, NECESSARY) body fat percentage for women is 12%.  Anything less and you're looking at your body eating away at your organs.  In order to save yourself from amenorrhea, doctors recommend at least 18% body fat.  Most female ATHLETES (and I mean pro-athletes) are around 13-15%, and many of them do not get their menstrual cycle due to that.  They are also prone to osteopenia and osteoporosis, as well as the Female Athlete Triad (google it).

That being said, at my lowest, I was around 8-9% body fat, and nearly died from seizures (as well as other issues).  My brain didn't get the glucose it needed, and my body was painfully low on short-term and long-term fuel stores (aka body fat).  I don't recommend going below 18%, unless you plan on making working out and marathon running your life mission.