Body Fat Percentages.

[Miss Inquiry]

I went for a fitness check up @ my gym last night, and my body fat percentage is 28% (although sounding alarmingly high, I am told for a woman this is healthy). My boyfriend has a body fat percentage of 4% (slightly underfat but not too bad as he is training really hard @ the moment)!! Having looked up scales for men and women I have a question. How come men have such a lower body fat percentage ranges than women, what is the reasoning behind it. I am after a biological reason, not just because women eat more chocolate and sit about gossiping!
Also what is the best way to reduce body fat. Is it exactly the same principle as dieting and trying to lose weight? Or is there some kind of secret?

[sabs]

Men tend to have a faster metabolism rate, therefore they can burn fat faster than women.

[PinkFizz]

I was told that womens body fat is allowed to be higher as it accomodates the female body parts that are more fatty/fleshy such as breasts and buttocks.

Your boyfriends sounds worryingly low though!!

[ummmm1]

Women store more fat for pregnancy and breast feeding etc.

Men are also more muscular which burns more calories

[Loosehead]

4% you sure? Even top body builders are'nt that low! He must be ripped to the bone!

[Miss Inquiry]

Loosehead, hes got no fat visible on him at all and trains nearly every day. I was really shocked too when he said it, (especially as it made me feel like a total lard arse) but he has an incredibly toned/defined body and he has a pretty strict diet, absolutley loads of pulses and vegetables, so I can believe it. He has completed the microsoft challenges, has run the London marathon a few times, happily does half marathons for FUN, and is doing the Tough Guy challenge this year. Rather him than me, but I am incredibly envious of the low body fat %.

[PinkFizz]

I have weighing scales that measure body fat/water etc.and even they say that 4% is dangerously low.They recommend never going below 8%.

[Miss Inquiry]

Is that for men or women PinkFizz?

I am off to get him some chocolate!!