Heart, liver, or kidney disease. Sometimes swelling can indicate a problem such as heart, liver, or kidney disease. Ankles that swell in the evening could be a sign of retaining salt and water because of right-sided heart failure. Kidney disease can also cause foot and ankle swelling.
The average human body is estimated to be about 60 to 70 percent water. The percentage may be as high as 75% in infants, decreasing to 57-60% in adults. This does not include water that is part of hydrated chemical compounds in the body, which can only be removed chemically or by heat drying.
The percentage of water in infants is much higher, typically around 75-78% water, dropping to 65% by one year of age. 1  Body composition varies according to gender and fitness level because fatty tissue contains less water than lean tissue. The average adult male is about 60% water.