skinny fat

It's hard to understand for someone who is overweight, because it definitely falls under "I wish I had your problems". But for someone who is after a very athletic look, "skinny fat" is an undesirable state. It might mean you have cellulite on your thighs, or no visible sixpack, or even love handles.

Compare two people who seem to occupy the same amount of space but one looks very athletic and the other doesn't. You can do that easily here, just enter a height and weight range and you'll see a lot of very different bodies:

http://www.mybodygallery.com/

The skinny-fat phenomenon is also why people criticize the BMI way of measuring fitness. For people in the normal-to-slightly-above-normal range, there is a world of difference in appearance (and possibly health) between someone who has a high BMI but a lot of lean body mass and someone who is skinny fat.

Skinny Fat....They both have relatively the same body fat %.....

I think I could be a perfect example. I will see if I can find pictures to post. I have been on this site for about 10 months and eating well and working out and have gained 2 pounds. However my body is firmer and more compact. I have lost inches and my clothes are baggie on me.

Pre myfitnesspal I would have been skinny fat.

When people say they're "skinny fat", they mean that they are skinny, but live an unhealthy lifestyle. Being thin usually lies in their genetics, and therefore they can eat lots of junk and not exercise and maintain their figure. This does not indicate though, that they are in good health.

Skinny Fat....They both have relatively the same body fat %.....

And you know this how?

The person on the right looks skinny to me. I don't see how anyone could call her fat.

So, if the fit woman has 18% bodyfat, that means the skinny woman does as well. That makes her skinny with low LBM, but it does not make her fat. No one with a low bodyfat% is fat. That is an incorrect use of the term.

Before: 137lbs 26% body fat After 136lbs 20% body fat. Any questions?

Perfect example.

You look amazing by the way.

Before: 137lbs 26% body fat After 136lbs 20% body fat. Any questions?

OP take note. This is the perfect example.

Great job!!

Skinny Fat....They both have relatively the same body fat %.....

And you know this how?

The person on the right looks skinny to me. I don't see how anyone could call her fat.

So, if the fit woman has 18% bodyfat, that means the skinny woman does as well. That makes her skinny with low LBM, but it does not make her fat. No one with a low bodyfat% is fat. That is an very incorrect use of the term.

Yeah, the woman on the right is "skinny skinny", not skinny fat.

I think you're using the word 'fat' too literally. I've always understood it to be someone who is skinny, but is equally as out of shape and unattractive as a fat person because they didn't just lose 'fat' when they lost weight, they also lost all their muscle mass because they included no resistance training into their weightloss program. You ever hear the phrase "Skinny girls look good in clothes, but fit girls look good naked"? - They're referring to a skinny girl who has no muscle tone or definition despite their low body fat %. Here's a few photos that I feel like I would define as 'skinny-fat' - mostly because of all the cottage cheese.





Vs.





See the difference?

There does appear to be a real medical term called normal weight obesity. And probably that is what skinny fat is supposed to mean. But, lots of people use it to mean all kinds of different things.

We could talk about it all day!! Fat is fat.. No. If u want WEIGHT LOSS u can end up "skinny fat" that's when u don't care what you're losing, water , muscle, fat.. That is what causes you to be "skinny fat" when u don't use your muscles, you can deteriorate them causing you to become flabby.

I'm the smallest I've ever been that i can recall in 18 years!! 2 years ago i got to where i was 175, (im now 166) even at 175 this time around, i am much tighter, i may have weighed the same, but the pictures that i have , well the speak for them selves, i was physically lighter, but this time in thinner.

I am really no count at explaining stuff!! Lol.. Alls i know is just during will cause weight loss, but u chance losing muscle, which if so so so hard to regain! The last time i lost weight (the summer of 2010) i did all taebo. . Lost 54lbs, got down to 175 i was still flabby ! This time at 175, i was tighter and more firm. Less likly to be skinny fat! gotta love weights

I think there are two sides to this:

1) skinny fat as a layman's term for normal weight obesity. I have fit this definition as at a BMI of 24 (normal) my body fat has normally been above 32% (the cut-off point for obesity). This, to me, is a family trait. My mum, at a 'healthy' BMI, has always been told by doctors to lose weight as it might help with her heart problems. At a BMI of 21 I have a normal BF% too, so no longer fit what I see as the technical definition of skinny fat.

2) skinny fat used as a contrast to a body ideal that involves more visible muscle definition. To me it seems a very useful marketing tool because if people aren't dissatisfied with their bodies, they will buy less. It's saying to a generation that soft curves are lesser to hard muscle, and selling a body shape that has never previously been marketed to women. I do find this new ideal attractive, but I am uncomfortable with the idea it is the only possible goal. The suggestion that only lean and muscular women look good naked is the worst form of body shaming and undermining imaginable. I remember being young and embarrassed of my body, until I learnt that if someone wanted to see me naked, they would be happy with what they saw, whatever that was, and I learnt not to worry so much. No one should be ashamed to be seen naked, and this is the suggestion in all of the '___ look good clothed, ___ look good naked.'

As for skinny fat meaning skinny and unfit/unhealthy, to me that is nonsensical as it suggests that being fat MEANS being unfit/unhealthy, when there are clearly 'fat' people who are fitter (can run further, lift more) and healthier (better blood test results, BP etc) than average.

Finally, how do I let this affect me? I think I'd rather avoid the term all together and think in terms of 'I would like' (eg a flatter stomach, strong arms, to be able to run further), rather than feeling I should be insulting myself for not being perfect.

It means you look pretty good with clothes on even slim, but when they come off you are flabby

This..............

Ditto! I'm currently a UK size 10, but still flabby. It means that my size 10 jeans are mainly comprised of squishy flab. I have a high body fat percentage (27%) and so I need to lose fat and build muscle. For me, skinny fat means that no matter what dress size I am, I'd rather have less fat and more muscle and be fitter and healthier.

27% is not particularly high for a woman, and I can understand wanting to be a lower than that, but I wouldn't see it as being 'fat', and I doubt the average person would either. Having fat you'd like not to have doesn't mean you ARE 'fat'. But I guess if you find applying a derogatory term to yourself motivating, no one's going to stop you.

i'm currently skinny fat. i only have around 5-8 pounds to lose. defined arms, in good shape. but all my last bit of weight is basically a spare tire round my waist, so it's soft to the touch, jiggly if i jump around.

i realize to someone trying to lose 100 pounds trying to lose 5 sounds like it's not even a real problem, but when you do get to this point, you'll understand.

tried posting a picture from google, didn't work.

no thatz chunky