Adult Females - Should Ribs Show ?

Graelwyn75

I am just curious, having read that in healthy weight children, ribs should be clearly visible, if you are also meant to be able to see ribs in healthy adults, in particular females?

I ask because the only time I am really able to see my ribs clearly(when not breathing in or stretching), as in, in a defined way, has been when underweight, or bordering on underweight.

Danni3ll3

Personally, I don't think they should. There should be a little padding over the ribs unless you are into body building which is a whole other kettle of fish.

annams76

I don't think they should be visible on adults and I didn't know they said you should be able to see them on children. My daughter is right on target for weight and height and you cannot just see her ribs.

slkehl

Everyone has a different body type. At a healthy weight, one person is going to look different from the other.

Graelwyn75

Thanks for the responses, and yes, someone's paediatrician in another thread told her that children's ribs should be visible at a healthy weight.

Oishii

My ds has visible ribs and this worried me. I feel better now :laugh:

I suspect visible ribs would happen at a really low weight for me. I like when I get to a shape where I have collar bones and maybe a hint of where my rib cage is, but that's about the lowest I'll go, for the moment.

BigRich822

My only show when I lift my arms up, but that is only beacuse my body fat content is so low

Sarauk2sf

It really depends on how your body fat is distributed to be honest. Visible ribs 'at rest' would be a bit of a red flag to pay attention to being underfat - but someone is not necessarily underweight if they have them. It really depends on how much they show also.

LorinaLynn

Mine are "hint of ribs" visible, not "counting each rib" visible.

When I can count them, I know I need to add a few pounds.

schondell

I'm 18, so an "adult" haha

My ribs show when I stretch and things like that but they're not popping out of my skin!

MiCool90

not my cup of tea

TavistockToad

Mine show a little, I am 5ft5, 124lbs. I am nowhere near 'too thin' so it depends on the individual.

isitsororo

Generally yes. Mine show on my chest, front ribcage, side, and maybe back. If I couldn't see them I'd think there was too much fat on me.

Aviva92

my ribs show even at a healthy weight because i don't generally gain weight up there. i'm not really a fan of that look, but i'd rather not be overweight.

debdelilah

Women gain body fat % as part of puberty...and men gain muscle mass...and both things lead to a healthy bmi being higher in adulthood.

fizzletto

If I stretch, or breathe in, you can see them. but if I'm relaxed you can't see them. And I'm 118lbs, BMI of 20.4, which is the lower end of healthy weight. I think in order to see my ribs when 'letting it all hang out' as it were, I'd have to be underweight.

RainbootsToBikinis

I'm 5'5 and 160 lbs and my ribs show, when I was 120 lbs my ribs completely showed and my hip bones stuck out quite a bit but the rest of me looked good and healthy it all depends on how you wear your weight.

jonnyman41

not sure with adults, though would not have thought so. both my sons as little kids and young teenagers, had ribs on show despite eating tonnes of food but then all the kids in our family were like that (as in nieces and nephews) so think it is a family trait. Now they are early 20s they are still thin but no ribs to be seen unless they stretch. I would however take what the doc said with a pinch of salt as many kids are built differently but still healthy. the boys in our family have no waists, are very skinny looking but have big heads but are no more or less healthy that kids that carry a little bit of pre pubity weight.

StyxxandStones

I'm 6', 155 and mine show a bit. the bottom one is clearly visible all the time. when standing up straight, the others show a little, when stretching, you could count them. i am okay with it. my bf % is 19.5, so healthy, and no where near underweight.

Robin_Bin

The amount of body fat that's considered healthy is different for children, adult women and adult men. I've also seen that children's ribs are normally visible when they are at a healthy weight (on reputable, medical sites). I wouldn't be worried if the bottom of a woman's rib cage or the collar bone could be discerned, but it would seem odd (and I'd worry) if you could distinguish individual ribs.
P.S. I meant "at rest". When stretching or something, I would think seeing ribs, especially on the back could be in the healthy range. In my late teens, when I was close to, but not underweight (according to my doctor and charts), you could see my lower ribs, especially in some positions.

Sharkington

I have to agree with the people who say that it all depends on your body type. I consider myself to be at a healthy weight - certainly not underweight. and a few of my ribs show - and more if I stretch. They don't stick out a lot, but you can see some of the lines through the skin. I don't consider it unhealthy looking; I just don't carry a lot of fat in that specific area naturally, I think.

skinnyfit09

I've always been underweight and I have a low body fat percentage and my ribs don't show. The only time they do is if I suck it in a lot or lean really far back.

I think it just has to do with how your body is built. I had a friend who was classic pear shape and kinda chubby from the hips down. Her ribs stuck out a lot, you could clearly see them all the time. I think she just had a big rib cage.

mmddwechanged

I think everyone is different. My ribs show even when I'm a bit plump. I have a long upper body so tend to look leaner than someone else the same height and weight.

Legs_McGee

Mine show and I'm not underweight. I mean, they're not jabbing through my skin or anything, but as someone above said, there's a "hint of rib." I just have a lean torso.

WVmom24

If the woman is standing up, no I don't think it looks healthy. If a woman is laying down or bending somehow, it's perfectly normal for ribs to show if she is thin.

fteale

No

katevarner

I have one rib that is out of whack and shows even when I'm overweight. My ribs always showed when I was a child, and they would show now except that my boobs sag over them. TMI, sorry. Actually, from the side, you can see two ribs, plus you can see my rib cage below my collarbone and above my boobs very faintly. I like it.

redheaddee

I think there is a bit of confusion..."Look at the dog's ribs. When you feel for the ribs, you should be able to feel each individual rib, with a thin layer of fat over the bone. If you can see each rib, the dog is too thin; if you cannot feel any ribs at all, the dog is too heavy." I am not sure if this is the same for adult humans...seriously though, I say if you are concerned, ask your doctor.

jesswait

It is just genetics. I have protruding bones, (cheeks, hip bones, collarbone and ribs) and I am overweight-obese on the BMI scale. The only change when I was 'underweight' on the BMI scale was that my ribs also stuck out in the back.

shorty35565

I think it depends on ur body type. I can see my ribs, but I'm not underweight. Mostly I can see mine in my chest.

RoadsterGirlie

I always lose weight up top first, and I have a low BMI as it is (18.5 to 19 depending on the time of day), so yes, my ribs show, especially if I lift my arms up.

That said, I do get plenty to good healthy food to eat, have lots of energy, and am super strong for a woman of my size. I can do pull ups like there's no tomorrow because of how light I am, as well as how strong I am.

So to answer your question, yes it absolutely can be okay.