A Message for Women
Women
have more body fat than men--about five percent more. By nature, a woman's body is
developed to protect her and a potential fetus. As a result, women have more enzymes for
storing fat and fewer enzymes for burning fat. Additionally, the estrogen women have
activates fat storing enzymes and causes them to multiply.
Women experience more changes in hydration
levels than men because of their menstrual cycle, and this can affect body fat measuring,
particularly using the BIA method. Retaining fluid may also cause weight to fluctuate
day-to-day during this period causing additional variation in the body fat percentage.
Female users of BIA products should be aware
of their natural monthly body cycles. To establish a baseline for monitoring body fat,
many women find it useful to chart their readings every day for a month. Afterward,
monitoring at regular intervals can anticipate monthly fluctuations.
Hormonal changes due to pregnancy or
menopause may also cause water retention and variations in measuring. Changes in hydration
levels can also be due to food, caffeine or alcohol consumption, strenuous exercise,
stress or illness, or the taking of prescription drugs.
To successfully monitor progress, women
should remember to compare weight and body fat percentage measurements taken under the
same conditions over a period of time. Pay attention to fluctuations caused by
menstruation. And stay within the Women's--not the Men's--Healthy Body Fat Range!
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