Why is it that the healthy body fat percentage vary depending on ethnicity or race?
Please don't answer my question saying "that's how it is". Please elaborate . African Americans should have a body fat of 12% to be healthy. On the other hand, Asians can have up to 25% fat and still be healthy.
Public Comments
- for all races its around 12-14% body/fat. its untrue that asians with 25% bodyfat are still healthy, 25% bodyfat is well in overweight leaning towards obecity.
- It because every race/ethnicity has a different evolutionary past. Being genetically predisposed to carrying more bodyfat is an advantage in some enviroments (like in the arctic) where as being genetically lean is an advantage in warmer climates like africa. It easier to see when you look at other examples in nature. Penguins that live in icy climates have more fat content that penguins that live at the equator. Moving a population of penguins from the poles to the equator will probably make them a bit thinner due to a lack of nutrition but would not be "healthy".
