Body fat should be, and indeed it is, one of the prime concerns in most people's minds. Being overweight is a serious problem, and the most obvious solution is to burn body fat. The best way to burn body fat and lose extra weight should be through a proper exercise program and a diet plan.

The amount of body fat is, of course, important. But equally important are the regions where the body fat is deposited. These patterns of fat deposit are genetically controlled and gender dependent. This means that patterns of body fat deposit vary between individuals and also between men and women. In case of men, most of the extra body fat is carried around the middle, which is called the "apple" shape. On the other hand, women carry most of their extra body fat around their hips and thighs, which is known as the "pear" shape. The "apple" shape generally poses more health threats than the "pear" shape.

Percentage Body Fat is the measure of your body fat against your total body weight. Regardless of what your weight is, you should not have higher than approximately 15% body fat if you are a man, and 22% if you are a woman. Healthy athletes, models and film personalities often have much lower body fat percentages.

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