Hate the term "skinny fat"

I know a guy who is skinny but lives on pop and junk food and is not active at all, goes out drinking, doesn't run or lift weights etc. This guy has mocked other people for being chubby. The chubby people that he looks down on are in fact runners, weight lifters and so on. They are not as thin as this man, but certainly far more fit and vibrant, and in my opinion beautiful. I consider him skinny-fat in that he is in terrible shape in spite of being thin, and oh so proud of being thin.

I think I look skinny fat, but my caliphered body fat % is hovering around 21%. I had no idea it would be so hard to look good even at what is the ideal weight for my height and frame. And all the "just lift heavy!" shouting on MFP just gets more frustrating. I feel like I'm trying so hard and still look like crap. At least calling myself skinny fat helps vent frustration, haha.

Well.. being new here... I had never heard the term... but reading through the replies, I am starting to think I am on the skinny-fat cusp (if there is one). haha I started at 5'1", only 113.8 pounds, but I had a muffin top! I think my bf% is only about 15% and my bmi is normal, of course (close to underweight, actually) but I never worked out anymore and seriously need to step my game up with the fitness! See, even "skinny *****es" like me need to work on themselves... Don't let terms and categories get you down. You are doing great and deserve to be recognized for that! Besides, those girls who are doing it for the wrong reasons, will never truly be happy with themselves.... they will always find fault with themselves. Much better to continue what you are doing and feel great about it and not bring yourself down because you aren't doing this or that. Good luck continuing in your journey of fitness!

I doubt that you have only 15% body fat with a muffin top. 15% is hard to reach for a woman.

This

This!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Women usually have flat stomach at 20% body fat. Of course to have abs pop out , you need a lower body fat percentage.

I'm not sure which makes me cringe more - "skinny fat" or "normal weight obesity" ... whichever term you prefer, it describes me . I have a normal BMI and a body fat percentage of 32. In my case, I dislike the term, but it is not misused.

I get that this is a real thing, as many posters are saying. I think what bothers me most is the way it gets slung around as an insult. A lot of people who are "skinny fat" probably worked very hard to get there, and may be proud of their appearance and quite comfortable. They may even have great cardiovascular health but an abnormally low amount of musculature. I'm not sure that calling them skinny fat is particularly helpful.

Also, regarding when the term IS misused:


Neither of these people are "skinny fat", but I bet the guy in the second photo gets called it (though really he's just skinny)... simply for not having the muscles that some would prefer him to have.

"A lot of people do not apply common sense to the use of the term"

as with every term in the history of the dictionary. Just sayin'

I don't actually find any of those women posted "skinny fat".

Skinny fat is when someone who appears thin with clothes on but looks like jello or really squishy naked or in a bathing suit. All over. Like back fat etc but they generally have a squishy look to their entire frame.

If you have a low bodyfat% and you're toned, then you're not "skinny fat." Lifting isn't always required to have tone.

"Skinny fat" to me is someone who just gets down to a specific number (weight, BMI, whatever) without bothering to obtain a decent body fat percentage and lean muscle mass.

^ Hi, I would love to know about what you are saying. I come in peace.

I have always been VERY SKINNY (please do not hate). I was super athletic.
They I got much older and very sick...Not, never had an eating disorder.

I am now to some skinny fat. (I think??)

How do you change it?

I am not young like the rest of you. So I could be skinny fat forever! :sad:

I think lifting heavy weights.

Eating at a deficit that is enough to lose mostly fat, but not a Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD) that would cause more muscle loss.

If your weight is very low, some people do bulking and cutting to increase muscle mass, but it involves a very good, consistent heavy lifting program (compound lifts), with good form and progressive overload.

That's all I know. I don't know that much about it. Eat, Train, Progress is a good group to learn from.

Hey Everyone, thanks for all your comments and conversation. I'm not the OP, but I have learned and thought about various things from the conversation. :flowerforyou: