If a kid has 12% body fat,does that mean he can lose that much of his weight or is he always supposed to have a certain percentage.

As far as I have been told it unhealthy to be at 6% body fat or lower.

Experts differ in their opinions about what is a healthy percentage of body fat. In general, 10% to 25% body fat is considered healthy in an adult man, and 18% to 32% body fat is considered healthy in an adult woman. Above this level is considered overweight. In children, body fat percentages above 25% in boys and 30% in girls is considered overweight

For males, somewhere between 7-8% body fat is the lowest you should go to sustain normal body function and maintain health. The key to losing weight is preventing muscle loss and dehydration.

I'm sure some of you have heard of "the Chart". I'm referring to a BMI chart or Body Mass Index = Ht/Wt. Look up Body Mass Index calculator and you can download a number of BMI caharts or conversion calcs to show what the medical industry considers acceptable body fat% based on HT/WT. obviously muscle density warps this formula, but its what the docs use.

The BMI chart does not measure % of body fat. We use it to measure the Ht.: Wt ratio as an indicator of overall health & as a indicator for risk. The BMI chart does not differentiate between fat and muscle. Also, the numbers I quoted previously are the lowest % of body fat(7-8%) to sustain life. The acceptable, healthy % of body fat in males is 18-24%.

I've seen what America considers healthy, and lets face it healthy is FAT. I'm sure I fall in that range and I consider myself chunky, not healthy. I'm no doctor but I think kids should be between 10% and 15%.

oh yeah Beeson, you're chunky alright!! Whatev.

My son is 6'3" 235 lbs....with a body fat of 14% and everyone says he is too fat...if you seen him...he is not fat by no means...but the charts say his "ideal" weight should be 175...yeah right, who could see Lucas weighing 175??