Body Fat Percentage: What's Healthy for Women?

Women naturally carry more body fat than men, and this is not a sign of being unhealthy. Essential body fat for women is around 10 to 13 percent, compared to 2 to 5 percent for men. This extra fat supports hormone production, protects reproductive organs, and plays a role in bone health. Dropping below 15 percent body fat as a woman often leads to menstrual irregularities, reduced bone density, and impaired immune function. For most women, a healthy range sits between 20 and 30 percent body fat. Female athletes typically fall between 14 and 20 percent. The Navy method used in this calculator measures neck, waist, and hip circumference to estimate body fat. It tends to be reasonably accurate for women in the average range but may underestimate body fat in very lean women or overestimate it in those with larger hip measurements. Taking consistent measurements at the same time of day improves reliability.