Low body fat in a human body is often associated with increased health benefits and attractive physical features in both sexes.
The human body consists of different lean tissues such as muscle, bone, and organs that are metabolically active and adipose tissues such as fat that are less active.
As per medical studies, the healthiest percentage of body fat for males is five percent, whereas for females it is twelve percent. However statistics indicate that on average males have 15 to 18 percent body fat and women have 22 to 25 percent.
Low body fat does not determine whether a person is overweight or underweight. A professional bodybuilder may be overweight according to his height, but his body has very little fat and most the extra weight is in lean muscles.
On the other hand, other professional athletes such as marathon runners are normally underweight and have very little percentage of body fat. In both the cases,the body fat is more or less the same, but one is overweight and the other is underweight, which proves that body fat does not determine the obesity or leanness of an individual.
Although hereditary factors do affect the composition of body fat in an individual, it is often a combination of hereditary factors and lifestyle. After the age of sixteen body fat composition changes are mostly due to changes in fat cell size and not due to the number of fat cells.
The reduced risk of heart disease is one of the central benefits
The most prominent health benefit derived from a low body fat percentage is probably the reduced risk of heart problems that may arise due to clogged arteries or veins.
Some individuals may enjoy good health even after having a high body fat percentage, but when it comes to the general population, statistics clearly reveal that most of the people suffering from heart problems have a higher percentage of body fat.
Decreased chance of Type 2 Diabetes
Studies have shown that people with more fat around their abdomen are more likely to suffer from Type 2 Diabetes than those with lesser body fat around the waist.
Low body fat also reduces the risk of various types of cancers such as uterine cancer, cancer of the gallbladder, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, and colon cancer in females. In males, chances of colon cancer, prostate cancer, and cancer of the rectum are reduced.
Although this theory has been applicable in many cases, it is still being debated, as the real causes of cancer have not yet been conclusively deduced.
Lower body fat can also help with sleep problems like Sleep Apnea
Low body fat is associated with a reduced risk of Sleep Apnea, which can cause shortness of breath and even lead to heart attacks in some cases. It also reduces the risk of developing Osteoarthritis, which is common among the elderly and affects the joints in knees, hips and lower back.
If you are already suffering from Gout, a disease affecting the joints caused due to high levels of uric acid in the blood, reducing your percentage of body fat can help in reducing the pain and suffering.
The occurrence of gallbladder diseases and gallstones is also rare among people with low body fat. Considering the benefits of low body fat, its time to get started with the exercise regimes that you have been planning for long.
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