Body Fat Percentage??

btracy01
btracy01 Posts: 49
in Health and Weight Loss
Apparently my body fat percentage is 26.52..... is that good or bad? lol I'm 5'6" and weigh (currently) 188.8...
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Replies

  • kristen6022
    kristen6022 Posts: 1,923 Member
    It's average and healthy, women are in normal ranges from 24% to 30%. Under 24 are known as athletic.
  • seansquared
    seansquared Posts: 328 Member
    188lbs and 25% bodyfat might be "American Normal", but it's most likely not "good" or "healthy".

    That being said, it says nothing about you as a person, so don't take that personally. Put a plan together and knock 30lbs off.
  • btracy01
    btracy01 Posts: 49
    188lbs and 25% bodyfat might be "American Normal", but it's most likely not "good" or "healthy".

    That being said, it says nothing about you as a person, so don't take that personally. Put a plan together and knock 30lbs off.


    I'm working on it! Lol, Didn't come on over night, and its not gonna come off that quickly either
  • kristen6022
    kristen6022 Posts: 1,923 Member
    Ideal-Body-Fat-Percentage-Chart1.jpg

    Just to prove I'm not bull****ing you...

    Men and women's are different. Your body fat is healthy. Your weight is high (I'm 5'11 and 148 (23% BF) in comparison), but that could mean you have more muscle.
  • btracy01
    btracy01 Posts: 49
    Ideal-Body-Fat-Percentage-Chart1.jpg

    Just to prove I'm not bull****ing you...

    Men and women's are different. Your body fat is healthy. Your weight is high (I'm 5'11 and 148 (23% BF) in comparison), but that could mean you have more muscle.

    I do have a lot of muscle...... yay I'm healthy :D lol
  • Simona40
    Simona40 Posts: 50 Member
    Didn't come on over night, and its not gonna come off that quickly either

    GREAT attitude!
  • justjenny
    justjenny Posts: 529 Member
    BUMP
  • nicolemarie1978
    nicolemarie1978 Posts: 53 Member
    Somehow my body fat % was 40+% back on 10/1.. seems so high, OBESE?! I weigh in again next week..curious where I'm at now.
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
    Regardless, it's best to base your progress with respect to body fat rather than scale weight. But yes, you fall within the average American adult female range.
  • kristen6022
    kristen6022 Posts: 1,923 Member
    This chart has nothing to do with being American. It's a global scale.
  • Melo1966
    Melo1966 Posts: 881 Member
    Mine is 43% at 183 but I am only 5'2".
  • nicolemarie1978
    nicolemarie1978 Posts: 53 Member
    @Melo.. curious how yours was measured? I'm 5'0 and at 139 my body fat was 41%. We are using a scale at the gym that calc's it.
  • phildawson75
    phildawson75 Posts: 205 Member
    Whilst 24%-30 is average for women, age is an important factor too.

    Here's a more detailed version.

    bodyfat.jpg
  • nicolemarie1978
    nicolemarie1978 Posts: 53 Member
    Great chart! At age 34, with 41% body fat.. I'm still "overfat".
  • jesspi68
    jesspi68 Posts: 292
    188lbs and 25% bodyfat might be "American Normal", but it's most likely not "good" or "healthy".

    That being said, it says nothing about you as a person, so don't take that personally. Put a plan together and knock 30lbs off.

    What a crappy thing to say. At 25% body fat losing 30lbs would most likely include a significant amount of muscle loss. 25% body fat is not a problem. 20% Body fat which puts her at the Lean (Low) end of things would only be a 12lb weight loss.
  • Melo1966
    Melo1966 Posts: 881 Member
    @Melo.. curious how yours was measured? I'm 5'0 and at 139 my body fat was 41%. We are using a scale at the gym that calc's it.

    I did the measurements one, I think it is more accurate than a scale because it takes bone size in consideration.
    41% at 139 that is very high that only gives you 82lbs of lean mass.
  • nicolemarie1978
    nicolemarie1978 Posts: 53 Member
    Yeah I was very shocked to see such a high number.
  • BiggyFuzz
    BiggyFuzz Posts: 511 Member
    I'm 6 feet weight 255 with 31.2% body fat

    I lift weights mostly but i'm at a point where i need to just slim down
  • wimeezer
    wimeezer Posts: 404 Member
    Bump
  • astrampe
    astrampe Posts: 2,169 Member
    Body fat seems to be a guessing game...I had mine calculated in various ways -- scale says 28.2%, calipers says 25.5, two calculators (that measures every limb..) says 26.3, and the whopper DXA scan says 42%.....
    I'm 5'8.5, weigh 177lbs and is 44.. Recent profile pic.....
  • prairiedawg2014
    prairiedawg2014 Posts: 367
    iam 5'5 and 154 lbs. my bodyfat is at 44%. says im obese.....yet i don't look obese. my family and friends say im just right.....whats with that?
  • astrampe
    astrampe Posts: 2,169 Member
    :bigsmile:
    iam 5'5 and 154 lbs. my bodyfat is at 44%. says im obese.....yet i don't look obese. my family and friends say im just right.....whats with that?
    See above....My DXA scan says I'm obese too.....And if that's you on the picture, I think obese is good!
  • JennEason1
    JennEason1 Posts: 32 Member
    @Melo.. curious how yours was measured? I'm 5'0 and at 139 my body fat was 41%. We are using a scale at the gym that calc's it.

    the best way to calcutate it is in the morning after you "purged" and have not yet drank anything, otherwise it will throw your numbers off.
  • Mcgrawhaha
    Mcgrawhaha Posts: 1,596 Member
    had my body fat checked this morning... had it done in september, and it was 43%... today it was 31%... still have a ways to go, but i was stoked! im a upper fat... good to know... lol i prefer to call myself... pleasantly plump...
  • sarahz5
    sarahz5 Posts: 1,363 Member
    All body fat measurements are subject to pretty broad error. Fat2Fit has three different calculators. I updated mine today, and they gave me 23, 27, and 32%. I had it tested with calipers two months ago, and I was at 36. Then a month ago, with a body comp scale, at 37, despite having lost 5 pounds in between. Then a week ago I had calipers done again, different person, and I was 25%. I can promise you I am not at 25% yet. :D I would guess I'm around 31%.

    So while body fat is the best way to measure your progress, you really just have to pick one method and compare yourself to your previous measurements using that same method over time.

    There are also some cool comparison pictures where you can see what a typical person at that body fat would look like - at builtlean.com I think.
  • kristen6022
    kristen6022 Posts: 1,923 Member
    Great chart! At age 34, with 41% body fat.. I'm still "overfat".

    According to your pics, I'm pretty sure that scale was a tad off. You look like I do - and I got mine done and I'm in the 23% range. Go get yours done by calipers, that scale is crap. You are 139 and 5'11, you are NOT FAT...
  • JennEason1
    JennEason1 Posts: 32 Member
    I am 5'4, 123lbs and at 15.7%....I'm trying to get down to 13% though, may even push for 11%. My hope is to be there by spring. Fingers crossed!
  • nicolemarie1978
    nicolemarie1978 Posts: 53 Member
    had my body fat checked this morning... had it done in september, and it was 43%... today it was 31%... still have a ways to go, but i was stoked!

    WOW!! CONGRATS! I would love a loss like that! How much weight have you lost in this time frame? Did you eat or drink before you were checked?
  • nicolemarie1978
    nicolemarie1978 Posts: 53 Member
    Great chart! At age 34, with 41% body fat.. I'm still "overfat".

    According to your pics, I'm pretty sure that scale was a tad off. You look like I do - and I got mine done and I'm in the 23% range. Go get yours done by calipers, that scale is crap. You are 139 and 5'11, you are NOT FAT...

    No I'm 5 ft even.. but I still think it seems high! I'll keep you posted on what it says next week at my weigh in.

    And I actually have calipers at home, going to see what that says.
  • lin7604
    lin7604 Posts: 2,951 Member
    what is the best most accurate site to use if you can't get to the gym and get it professionally measured? I have done a few online sites and says 23%, the i used a scale in the store one and it said 28%

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