Originally Posted by hikeandbike

I've been checking my body fat last few months at my gym with one of those electronic testers. Body fat is usually 15 or 16 % and body mass is 22 or 23. At 15% the chart they use indicates that I'm pretty good for someone my age (60 in 3 months), but not for someone a lot younger. I don't understand why age is a factor. What's the difference if someone in their 20's has a certain % of body fat and someone in their 60's has the same %? I can understand why you have to input your height and weight into the device, but not sure why you even have to program in your age. By putting in an age, does that change the measuring process?
I also don't know what body mass is and what the scores indicate.
Can anyone help?
Thanks.
Larry