February 2002

The question-of-the-month for February comes from Erin in Kansas, an advanced female collegiate athlete who asks about body fat levels.  Her question is: 

Dear Mike:

What would be the average and/or ideal range of body fat for very active female athletes?  

Dear Erin:

Thank you for your great question.  I'm glad to finally get the chance to answer a question from a female visitor!

Body composition levels, more commonly referred to as body fat levels, are always a hot topic in the world of fitness and weight training.  In general, body fat levels of females are higher than that of their male counterparts.  There are a number of reasons for this, but suffice it to say, that is how God created us.

Below is a chart listing different levels of body fat for men and women.

Erin, keep in mind that the chart above is for the average individual. Serious athletes will most likely fall below the outlined ranges.  With that in mind, a female track athlete should be in the 10% - 19% range.  More specifically, a long distance runner will probably fall in the lower part of that range, and a sprinter will probably fall in the higher end of that range.  

I hope you find this information helpful and I clearly answered your question.  Good luck with your training. 

As always, don't forget to visit the Past Qs & As and my Training Tips section for more great tips and training info.

Until next month, train hard and stay healthy.

Mike Francois

Do you have a training question for Mike?  If so, visit our Ask Mike section and submit your question.

Note: Before embarking on any nutrition, supplementation, and/or training program, consult with your physician or other licensed health-care professional.