Body Fat % VS. BMI

BeginningNew2012
BeginningNew2012 Posts: 27 Member
edited January 5 in Health and Weight Loss
So I have been wondering about this every since my personal trainer went through this with me. My original (and still current) goal weight is 145 lbs, which would put me at a BMI of 22.7. However, when I told my trainer this, he calculated my ideal weight using Body fat % and that would put me at 165 pounds (around 20% fat, 24 year old female, 5'7"). Now my question is, should I be striving for the 165lb mark with 20% fat or go for the 145 lbs and 22.7 bmi?

Replies

  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    So I have been wondering about this every since my personal trainer went through this with me. My original (and still current) goal weight is 145 lbs, which would put me at a BMI of 22.7. However, when I told my trainer this, he calculated my ideal weight using Body fat % and that would put me at 165 pounds (around 20% fat, 24 year old female, 5'7"). Now my question is, should I be striving for the 165lb mark with 20% fat or go for the 145 lbs and 22.7 bmi?

    I would go for whatever weight you feel comfortable at. If you get to 165lbs and are at 20% body fat and feel good and look good and feel that's where you want to be, then stay at that! When you have weight to lose I think it's sometimes hard to imagine what you'll feel and look like at a certain weight.

    I'm 5'6" and currently 167lbs and my initial aim is 158lbs which will put my BMI at 25. If I feel happy at that weight then great, I will leave it, but I think I'd like to get down to around 150lbs because i'd also like to lower my body fat.
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    So I have been wondering about this every since my personal trainer went through this with me. My original (and still current) goal weight is 145 lbs, which would put me at a BMI of 22.7. However, when I told my trainer this, he calculated my ideal weight using Body fat % and that would put me at 165 pounds (around 20% fat, 24 year old female, 5'7"). Now my question is, should I be striving for the 165lb mark with 20% fat or go for the 145 lbs and 22.7 bmi?

    Well, body fat % is a more accurate measure of health than the BMI, which is a scale that was never intended to be used as a measure of health but has become medically so over the last few decades...

    So, while it's definitely not BAD to be within the "healthy" scale of the BMI, focusing on reducing body fat % will most likely end up with you looking and feeling better, and may make you healthier as it would be hard to have a low body fat % without good nutrition, exercise, and strength training (which will reduce the body fat to show/strengthen muscle). Provided you don't suddenly start starving yourself.

    None of us can tell you what's best for you, but if even your trainer is recommending you focus on body fat %... go for that. What's the worst that can happen? You can reach that goal, not be happy, and just keep working like you've been working and aim for a lower weight.
  • auzziecawth66
    auzziecawth66 Posts: 476 Member
    Def do what makes you happy. But I can honestly say from personal experience that I hit my goal weight plus some 108 pounds and still wasn't happy with the results so I have been focusing more on lowering body fat % then what the scale says...(or at least I was anyway lol)
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    BMI is a meaningless number, it does not take into account how much muscle a person has. You want to pay attention to your Body Fat % instead.
  • etoiles_argentees
    etoiles_argentees Posts: 2,827 Member
    So I have been wondering about this every since my personal trainer went through this with me. My original (and still current) goal weight is 145 lbs, which would put me at a BMI of 22.7. However, when I told my trainer this, he calculated my ideal weight using Body fat % and that would put me at 165 pounds (around 20% fat, 24 year old female, 5'7"). Now my question is, should I be striving for the 165lb mark with 20% fat or go for the 145 lbs and 22.7 bmi?

    Well, body fat % is a more accurate measure of health than the BMI, which is a scale that was never intended to be used as a measure of health but has become medically so over the last few decades...

    So, while it's definitely not BAD to be within the "healthy" scale of the BMI, focusing on reducing body fat % will most likely end up with you looking and feeling better, and may make you healthier as it would be hard to have a low body fat % without good nutrition, exercise, and strength training (which will reduce the body fat to show/strengthen muscle). Provided you don't suddenly start starving yourself.

    None of us can tell you what's best for you, but if even your trainer is recommending you focus on body fat %... go for that. What's the worst that can happen? You can reach that goal, not be happy, and just keep working like you've been working and aim for a lower weight.

    This, and just look in the mirror.
  • AnninStPaul
    AnninStPaul Posts: 1,372 Member
    You're likely to lose some muscle weight as well as fat on your way down, and it all depends upon your starting lean weight.
  • AEFidgets
    AEFidgets Posts: 243 Member
    I'd go with a body fat percentage over BMI anyday.
  • djames92
    djames92 Posts: 990 Member
    if you go by just bmi then bodybuilders would be considered obese under a technicality id say go with body fat over bmi but dont completely ignore bmi
  • skrakalaka
    skrakalaka Posts: 338 Member
    I'm the opposite,I have a lower BMI with a higher BF% (supposedly). I picked the lower weight because I knew I would feel better there.
  • jrmartinezb
    jrmartinezb Posts: 147 Member
    20% Body fat for females is definitely lean and fit.

    BMI is biased against those with low body fat or a lot of muscle, in the end it is just a measure of height vs weight. Body composition has no role in it. If you want to get athletic, BMI wont measure your progress accurately

    In the end, if you get to a low body fat through clean eating and exercise you will most likely have indexes such as WHR, BMI and ICO well within the healthy and fit categories.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    165 with 20% will give you the higher LBM.
    Guess who gets to eat more ice cream and look great.


    Just focus on the bf.
  • hiker359
    hiker359 Posts: 577 Member
    165 with 20% will give you the higher LBM.
    Guess who gets to eat more ice cream and look great.


    Just focus on the bf.

    Yup! More LBM means you get to eat more. BF % is more important than the number on the scale!
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    I'm the opposite,I have a lower BMI with a higher BF% (supposedly). I picked the lower weight because I knew I would feel better there.

    What's a "higher" BF %? We don't mean comparing BMI numbers directly to BF. We mean comparing higher weight/low body fat % with lower weight/higher body fat %. Based on your pictures, I can't imagine you have a "high" BF%.
  • allie491
    allie491 Posts: 91 Member
    Is there an easy way to calculate body fat %?

    I tend to carry weight in my lower belly and thighs...will the body fat % take into account where you carry your weight?
  • FitandFab33
    FitandFab33 Posts: 718 Member
    How exactly did he calculate that? Is he assuming that you'll maintain every lb of LBM while losing?

    ETA this link: http://www.builtlean.com/2010/05/04/ideal-body-weight-formula-how-to-calculate-your-ideal-weight/
  • skrakalaka
    skrakalaka Posts: 338 Member
    I'm the opposite,I have a lower BMI with a higher BF% (supposedly). I picked the lower weight because I knew I would feel better there.
    What's a "higher" BF %? We don't mean comparing BMI numbers directly to BF. We mean comparing higher weight/low body fat % with lower weight/higher body fat %. Based on your pictures, I can't imagine you have a "high" BF%.

    Sorry if my post was confusing. When I started on MFP I had a BMI of 23(healthy) and a body fat 27%(obese). I set my weight loss goal on having an acceptable body fat% according to the military calculator. According to that I should now be on the high end of "acceptable" for body fat% after losing 13 lbs.
  • FitandFab33
    FitandFab33 Posts: 718 Member
    Is there an easy way to calculate body fat %?

    I tend to carry weight in my lower belly and thighs...will the body fat % take into account where you carry your weight?

    BF calipers- you can get them on Amazon for like $6- take from multiple points

    http://www.muscleandstrength.com/tools/how-to-measure-bodyfat-using-calipers.html
  • NoMoreFlubbering
    NoMoreFlubbering Posts: 95 Member
    So this thread just encouraged me to go measure my bodyfat %, as best I can at work. I had 2 different sites - 1 only measured waist, while the other measured waist, neck and hips. The first gave me a bodyfat of 37% - the 2nd, 50.2%. How do we, the laypeople, even know which one to listen to??
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
    So this thread just encouraged me to go measure my bodyfat %, as best I can at work. I had 2 different sites - 1 only measured waist, while the other measured waist, neck and hips. The first gave me a bodyfat of 37% - the 2nd, 50.2%. How do we, the laypeople, even know which one to listen to??

    Unfortunately, the best measures require money... getting it professionally measured (I know some rave about the "water displacement" method), a specific type of scale, or calipers (calipers are cheap, though). I get varying measurements on online calculators that haven't changed much because I've only lost about two pounds in the last two months... but probably 8 inches all around.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    So this thread just encouraged me to go measure my bodyfat %, as best I can at work. I had 2 different sites - 1 only measured waist, while the other measured waist, neck and hips. The first gave me a bodyfat of 37% - the 2nd, 50.2%. How do we, the laypeople, even know which one to listen to??

    Personally, I picked the one that gave me the highest reading. Mine said 67.4% when I first started in July. Now I just keep using that same one to track the trend.
  • BeginningNew2012
    BeginningNew2012 Posts: 27 Member
    Sorry, I haven't been able to check on my topic in a bit. My trainer used some machine thing that reminds me of an xbox controller lol. I think that once I get to my healthy BF % (20) if I'm still not happy with weight, I will work on that. I just got confused because you almost never hear about BF %.
  • eatathome
    eatathome Posts: 81 Member
    Are calipers very accurate? What if you have loose skin (I've had a baby)?
  • BeginningNew2012
    BeginningNew2012 Posts: 27 Member
    As for LBM, I'm not sure what all he took into consideration. He gave me workout routines with weights and machines and does measurements, BMI, and BF % every month.
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