Question about body fat %

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Replies

  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    The military calculator really only looks at waist, hips, and neck size. If your neck is relatively large, it actually skews the numbers to give a lower BF% than you really are.


    Don't focus so much on the numbers at this point. At 5'2" you know you have fat to lose at 198lbs. BMI is a VERY imperfect tool, but you can use it to get a preliminary range of where you should be headed weight wise. Set an appropriate deficit, and try to be more active. Your actual body fat % won't make much of a difference to your approach at this point. Get a pair of calipers to get some more accurate numbers.
  • SassyCalyGirl
    SassyCalyGirl Posts: 1,932 Member
    lose weight first-then worry about your body fat-jmo
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    Ignore all that . Do you have fat to lose? yes? Then that's all that matters.
  • sylvuz323
    sylvuz323 Posts: 468 Member
    I tried out the body calculator and also got like 27.5% but the Covert Bailey calculator makes better sense plus it ask for more measurements...it helps render a more accurate number.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    What your actual percentage doesn't really matter at this point. You know you have weight to lose so let's get to it. It you want to approximate your bf% just compare yourself to this chart.

    body-fat-percentage-women_zps824df09e.jpg
  • JAT74
    JAT74 Posts: 1,081 Member
    I wouldn't take a lot of notice of the calculators. I have a lot of visible fat on certain parts of my body like upper arms, thighs, bum and lower stomach and some calculators put me at 27%. I know that's not right as while I've got slim ankles, forearms, a tiny neck and lean collar bone area the other parts are pretty fat compared to the rest of me.

    I've also used different scales and got readings right up to 38% (including water) but on another set of scales the reading is currently 31%. I have calipers at home too which tell me I'm closer to 32 or 33%.

    Either way as I want to get to 20% initially as a goal, I know I've got a long way to go (and I'm currently only 144.5 lbs at 5 foot 4)
  • CorvusCorax77
    CorvusCorax77 Posts: 2,536 Member
    DO NOT USE ONLINE CALCULATORS OR EXPENSIVE GADGETS TO ESTIMATE BODY FAT PERCENTAGE.
    The online stuff and scales are all wrong wrong wrong.


    If you want to estimate your bf%, look at the pics posted by DavPaul, or look here: http://www.leighpeele.com/body-fat-pictures-and-percentages
    If you want to see if you are making changes, follow your measurements.

    If you really want accurate BF% calculated, you have to do hydrostatic or dexa scan, both you have to pay for. Or you can have a skileld person do the caliper test.

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