The Scientific American reports that Olympic speed skater Apolo Ohno has an almost purely muscular body with only 2.8 percent body fat. Most Americans, Sciam tell us, have 22 percent (men) to 32 percent (women) body fat. What’s desirable? Health experts advise men to shoot for 15 percent body fat and women to aim for 22 percent. In this cautionary piece, Sciam talks about the pros and cons of low body fat with Marina Mourtzakis, an assistant professor at the University of Waterloo in Ontario who specializes in nutrition, exercise and metabolism. The editors note that “Professor Mourtzakis wanted to emphasize the risks associated with
an extremely low body fat: “While it is possible for some athletes to
reach 2 percent body fat, I would certainly not support this approach
for athletes. Achieving this range presents health risks, including
increased risk of infection and injury. This approach often supports
unhealthy eating behaviors and patterns that are reflective of
disordered eating behaviors. It is especially important for athletes to
maintain adequate intake of all macronutrients (that is, protein,
carbohydrates and fats) to achieve optimal performance and maintain
their health.”
Health, fitness and lifestyle tips for people over 50 who still like to play hard
Saturday, May 31, 2025
Great news. I was sure that skinny people must have something going against them.
What a bunch of baloney. I have roughly 3% body fat, and have been that way most of my life. I eat healthy, and avoid junk food. I rarely get sick, and I heal faster than most people I know. This is just another lame scare tactic, trying to get overweight people to feel better about themselves.
haha that is hilarious. I’m sorry but you don’t know what is 3% body fat. I am not saying you are not lean. It’s just not possible.Having 3% body fat would actually be very unhealthy.