While having a high percentage of body fat can contribute to many chronic diseases, not having enough body fat can be just as dangerous.

The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world, with over 20,000 members. Founded in 1954, the ACSM has continued to provide research, education and certification opportunities for individuals in the fields of sports medicine and exercise science.

Most female athletes carry between 8 and 15 percent fat, but swimmers usually have a bit more -- between 14 and 24 percent. While any body fat percentage below 30 is perfectly healthy for a woman, it's expected that competitive athletes be among the leanest and sleekest people around.

Obesity affects one in three adults in the United States, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But your weight provides only one measurement of body fat.

Body composition is a better measure of your body's health than weight alone. You may be a normal weight for your height but carrying too many of those pounds in the form of fat, and having too much fat puts you at risk for chronic disease.

The formation of breast tissue in males can be a painfully embarrassing condition. Known clinically as gynecomastia, it can range from a slight puffiness in the nipple to what looks like a woman's breast.

Skinfold measurement equations can help produce a relatively accurate estimate of body fat as long as the measurements are taken correctly. Two equations are required for this process -- one to estimate body density and one to estimate percent body fat from the body density.

People tend to carry fat differently in their bodies; you might notice heavier jowls in some, or a pudgy muffin-top creeping over the waistband. You might prefer to smooth your stomach or trim your thighs, but it’s not possible to isolate body regions for weight reduction.

Having a body fat percentage that's higher than recommended can put you at an increased risk of heart disease and other health problems. Losing 1 percent of your body fat may mean losing just a couple of pounds if you're only slightly overweight.

Abdominal fat can be devious, gradually building up over your adult years until you suddenly have an unwanted pooch. Your body stores subcutaneous and visceral fat, both of which add inches to your waistline. Subcutaneous fat hibernates just beneath your skin and you can grasp it with your fingers.

You may be able to make your breasts smaller with exercise, if you burn more calories than you consume each day. This is because the breasts are partially made up of fatty tissue. You can't target your breasts for weight loss, though, as it is impossible to spot-reduce fat.

Weight loss is helpful for lowering your disease risk, but if you go about it the wrong way, you may end up with a higher body fat percentage than when you started.