Am I seriously obese? 41% Body Fat

It looks like a device that uses bioimpedance (look it up) to estimate fat and it combines the features of a scale and a hand-held body fat calculator. Although bioimpedance is not the gold standard, your reading may actually be pretty accurate.

Buy a scale that provides a fat percentage reading. Use the reading as a baseline. Try to reduce the percentage over time.

I'm 5'2", weigh 101, and am 20% fat per my Tanita scale, although that measurement is low compared to the "military" formula for determining body fat percentage. So yes, I can believe that you could possibly be 41% fat.

Here is me, about 7-8 pounds heavier than I am now:



Maybe my legs or boobs upped the percentage.

What am I supposed to use then? Pay extra, on top of my gym membership, for someone ELSE to calculate it? What is a caliper? I'm just so overwhelmed right now. Really considering complaining to that stupid gym. I've enjoyed their classes so far. But I was so mad at that trainer. Maybe I just can't handle the truth.

Judging from this picture there is NO WAY you are 41% body fat. I'm just under 200lbs at 5'3 and apparently I'm 35% body fat. You have an awesome figure! I have big boobs too so I know the pain but I honestly wouldn't worry too much about your body fat. Check your measurements and just think about how you feel. You are absolutely not obese! Don't worry about it and just keep doing what you're doing because it's obviously working. that trainer seriously sounds like an *kitten*!

It looks like a device that uses bioimpedance (look it up) to estimate fat and it combines the features of a scale and a hand-held body fat calculator. Although bioimpedance is not the gold standard, your reading may actually be pretty accurate.

The thing with bioimpedance is that they will usually measure water as fat, so they can especially be inaccurate for women, who tend to retain water more than men.

Also, boobs may contain a good amount of fat but they are not all fat. They are also mammary glands. They amount of actual fat can vary greatly.

Check around your town for a DEXA body scan.

Good idea.

Do you need to pay someone else to get your body fat?

Body fat percentage is a basic marker of health and one's fitness progress. It is as, if not more, important than the gross weight number on the scale.

Women with bodacious Ta Ta's get very inaccurate readings.... try some calipers!

^As Sidesteal said, all the tests vary. Those scales in particular can be extremely way off.
Looking at your pictures, there's no way you're 41%.
Also, mot trying to be crude or anything, but keep it in mind that your breasts are made of fat; and yours aren't exactly small.

Agreed. You bewbs may add a little, but that sounds far too high.

TrTry putting your measurements into the military body fat % calculator on fat2fitradio.com and try again in a month or two

Try putting your measurements into both of the body fat % calculators on fat2fitradio.com and compare them. They use different measurements and different formulas. The trend I've seen is that the two are usually either fairly close, or they're about 10% apart. When they're farther apart, you're probably actually about half way between the two.

As for the scale they measured you with, it uses bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Of the cheapers ways to get measured, it can be reasonably accurate...if properly calibrated. If you are already working out and have been for a while (particularly 3+ times a week, moderate to high intensity; what the BIA system deems "athletes"), then BIA is known to measure high due to how much "athletes" retain water in and around their muscles, their bone density, and various other factors. A good BIA tool will account for this with a setting that changes its calculation. Additionally, all BIA tools, regardless of settings, will be susceptable to errors based on your hydration levels and how sweaty or otherwise moist your hands (or in the case of BF scales, your feet) are when you take the measurement. The more moisture on the contact points, and the more hydrated you are, the higher it will read.

I highly doubt you're 41% body fat. However, it wouldn't surprise me if you measured low to mid 30s on a BIA callibrated for "athletes" (as someone else pointed out, in part due to you being...well-endowed), though if I had to guess, I'd say high 20s to low 30s. Yes, it's possible to be "skinny" and have a high body fat percentage (and for perspective, women should have around 20% BF, so 30%, while "over" isn't as bad as 30% on a guy).

That said, I wouldn't sweat the number itself that much. Treat it like all other measurements - one of the many ways to track your progress. As long as it goes the way you want it to the next time you measure (using the same method), and you remember that it's an estimation and has its limitations, then you're doing the right thing.

And "fire" your trainer (that is, don't use him again) and complain to his manager. As someone else said, he's a douche. Take from him what you found helpful (if anything) and ignore the rest and move on. Make sure your diet is in order, maybe try out some new strength stuff while you still have access to the gym (heavy, compound lifts are strangely addictive, they're at least worth a shot) and you'll probably shed the fat you do have (whatever the percentage is) in no time.

If you really want an accurate bodyfat reading, get either a DEXA or hydrostatic dunk tank measure. Body measurements into a "bodyfat calculator" mean nothing, calipers are inaccurate and those stupid scales are a waste of time and money. An accurate measure is useful to find your lean body mass to calculate your protein intake etc...

Ever heard of skinny fat? Build up your lean muscle. Lift heavy. Use a barbell. Heavy squats, deadlift, press...

Do you need to pay someone else to get your body fat?

Body fat percentage is a basic marker of health and one's fitness progress. It is as, if not more, important than the gross weight number on the scale.

But if she is already working out and addressing her eating habits, what is the gain for her right now if finances are a barrier?

Hey hun, I train 6 times a week and have a personal trainer. In my gym we also have one of those machines and by curiosity I got on it one day, and my BF came to 30% where as I was at 33% when I started dieting and hitting the gym. And back then I was 60lbs heavier so there is no way I only lost 3% body fat. I spoke with my trainer and he told me not to go by that machine either as it was very inaccurate. Just continue doing what you are doing and keep that machine out of sight. Best of luck!

I'm also a member of Life Time Fitness, and while I love the gym, I've stayed away from the "free diagnostic" due to the fact that it's rubbish. It's free for a reason - they're trying to get you to buy PT packages. Is the device they used accurate? To an extent. While I do believe that your breasts skewed the numbers, there are other factors that can affect body fat % readings - time of day, how hydrated you are, etc. Take it for what it is, but don't let it stop you from reaching your goals.

I would switch gyms if I were you.

They have this machine at my gym too that I just joined. They explained EVERYTHING and I haven't even gotten on it yet.

They showed us all of the numbers that we will be getting and what they mean and how our goals will be based off of that.

Find a gym that will do the same for you.

You're much more likely to go to a gym that has people you like, respect, and trust. Not some tool who tries to sell you stuff.

I believe it... I mean, look at those boobs! O.o