You searched for Percentage

2 mins read

Pregnancy Over 40 & Percentage of Birth Defects

You may have heard that it is better to have a baby at a young age to avoid certain birth defects. While this is somewhat true, a woman can have a healthy baby throughout her premenopausal life. The chance of having a baby with a birth defect does increase with age, but you need to know the facts before determining whether it is a substantial risk that you would want to avoid.

4 mins read

What Is Normal Body Fat Percentage for Women?

ModernMom Staff

Adipose tissue, or fat, is essential for the body to function properly. According to the American Council on Exercise, women need a body fat percentage of 10 to 12 percent for the tissue to adequately protect the body, regulate temperature, provide insulation, produce sex hormones and supply enough fuel to carry out activities. Dangers arise when the body stores too much fat. The American Heart Association states that a higher body fat percentage can lead to greater risks for developing diabetes, strokes, gallstones, high blood pressure, cholesterol and heart disease, even among women categorized in the “normal” range for weight and body mass index (BMI). A study released in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that levels of inflammation, which indicates a future risk for obesity, heart disease and metabolic disorders, correlated with a woman’s percentage of body fat and not with body weight or BMI.