These percentages provide an overall view of your health and fitness in relation to your weight, health, and age. Weight and fat are often used together, but they are not interchangeable. It's difficult to determine your body composition accurately. A healthy male's body should be approximately 12 percent to 18 percent fat.
Doctors often offer body composition tests.
Your local gym may also be able to evaluate your body composition. Knowing your body composition can help you formulate an exercise program and set sensible fitness goals. Either way, you are changing your overall body composition from less fat to more muscle. Body fat does have some benefits, not the least of which is energy storage and maintaining body temperature.