Are there any disadvantages to low body fat percentage?
I've got really really low body fat percentage, like 2%. I'm a male. Are there any physical disadvantages this gives me, such as being more likely to tear a muscle or something? Thanks.
Public Comments
- You will get tired more easily, colder quicker and hungrier quicker if you do not have lots of muscle. Muscle does not rely on fat in anyway. Most bodybuilders who want to be really defined aim to be below 10% bodyfat and you are lucky to have it this low.
- You get colder faster. (get cramps faster)
- Here's a comparison of relative body fat levels: Men: Contest bodybuilder: 3-5% Extremely lean: 6-9% Lean: 10-15% Average Male: 16-20% Poor: 20-25% Very Poor: 25%+ You're not going to more easily tear a muscle, but could be more prone to MS (where the fat insulation covering every nerve is missing), hormone problems (almost all hormones are made from cholesterol and or protein) kidney damage they are held in place by fat, brain damage (the brain IS fat), or joint problems (fat cushions all synovial joints). Good Luck, and eat a Twinkie...
- Trying to achieve a body fat percentage that is so low it affects your essential fat stores is NOT good for your health. Some storage fat is also required for good health. It's used to protect internal organs in the chest and abdomen. Body Fat Percentage for The Average Population Age:Up to 3030-5050+ Males:9-15%11-17%12-19% However, the absolute perfect body fat percentage does NOT exist. Age and gender make a big contribution to the ideal value, but most importantly... Everyone is an individual. Some people might feel and perform better at a higher or lower body fat percentage than others of the same age and sex. I know professional NFL player jerry Rice was trying to have a real low one and he started having physical problems and they had to struggle to get him back up to a healthy level so he could perform as he did before. Total body fat percentage consists of essential fat and storage fat. Essential fat is that amount necessary for maintenance of life and reproductive functions. But Wikipaedia showed: The percentage for women is greater than that for men, due to the demands of childbearing and other hormonal functions. Essential fat is 2-5% in men, and 10-13% in women. Storage fat consists of fat accumulation in adipose tissue, part of which protects internal organs in the chest and abdomen.
- Hi Captain, Body fat is necessary as a precursor to hormones. In particular sex hormones. If % body fat is less than 6% in males, it is possible to have reduced testosterone production. There may not be enough body fat to produce the testosterone. RDCNSD
