What is the Ideal range for Body Fat?

Body fat consists of essential body fat and storage fat.
Essential body fat is present in the nerve tissues, bone marrow, and organs (all membranes), and we cannot lose this fat without compromising physiological function.
Storage fat, on the other hand, represents an energy reserve that accumulates when excess energy is ingested and decreases when more energy is expended than consumed.

Based on your gender and age, the ideal range for body fat is the following:

Gender	Age	Ideal Body Fat %
Male	18 to 34 years	8.0% to 22.0%
Male	35+ years	10.0% to 25.0%
Female	18 to 34 years	20.0% to 35.0%
Female	35+ years	25.0% to 38.0%

Source: Dr. Timothy Lohman, Department of Physiology, University of Arizona. “Human Body Composition”.