how could i have that much body fat?

rosemary98
rosemary98 Posts: 632
in Health and Weight Loss
I have tried numerous calculators and am getting my body fat at 25%-30%. Howe

I weight 97.2
waist: 24
wrist: 5.5
forearm: 8
hips:31
calves: 11

Are these big numbers here? strangely, when I changed my weight to 160...my body fat didn't really change. wow...what are the measurements of someone with little body fat?
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Replies

  • LilMissDB
    LilMissDB Posts: 133
    You can't measure body fat with circumference measures or by weight. If I have bigger hip bones that you, I could have double the circumference with the same percentage of body fat. Likewise, someone with a lot of muscle will have a lower body fat percentage than someone the same size with little muscle. When we measured our body fat in university, one girl with a BMI of 19 was coming up overfat in the body fat ranges. I had a BMI of 23 but was underweight in the body fat ranges.

    That said, 25-30% body fat is in the healthy range for a woman.
  • HappyStack
    HappyStack Posts: 802 Member
    Skin-fold callipers cost a few pounds (or bucks) and they're far more accurate. You won't be able to do it yourself, but if you have a partner, friend, or relative, who is willing to pinch some skin you're on easy street.

    http://www.linear-software.com/online.html

    Use this, take measurements how it says here;

    http://www.linear-software.com/femalesites.html

    7-sites will be more accurate than 4-sites and so on, but it'll be a good estimation. The only more reliable method is a DEXA scan.
  • rosemary98
    rosemary98 Posts: 632
    thank you. I am nearly 5'6'' and 97 pounds. I can't believe I have that much fat...isn't fat the first to go? so frustrating. I will check out the sites.
  • AstroRocket
    AstroRocket Posts: 119 Member
    I find it hard to believe you'd have any fat on your body at all, you say your 5"6 an weigh 97 pounds, then according to your BMI that would make you a 15.6 which is underweight 0.o please do correct me if I'm wrong.
  • rosemary98
    rosemary98 Posts: 632
    I find it hard to believe you'd have any fat on your body at all, you say your 5"6 an weigh 97 pounds, then according to your BMI that would make you a 15.6 which is underweight 0.o please do correct me if I'm wrong.

    well, yes...I am 5'5.5" and 97.2 as of this morning. I am underweight...that is why the body fat measurements confuse me. not to mention the fact that those measurements don't seem to be huge.
  • Escape_Artist
    Escape_Artist Posts: 1,155 Member
    These calculators are very inaccurate. Calipers are inaccurate as well but less than a calculator.
    If you really want to have the right BF% then you need a Dexa Scan or a BodPod.

    Body fat % has nothing to do with height or weight.
    Me and a friend had both a Dexa scan done. She is 5'6 and weights 115lbs. She was tested with 27.3% BF
    I'm 5'2 and 130lbs. Mine came at 20.3%

    It's called skinny fat :wink:

    If you really want to have the accurate %, get a Dexa or Bodpod test
  • rosemary98
    rosemary98 Posts: 632
    These calculators are very inaccurate. Calipers are inaccurate as well but less than a calculator.
    If you really want to have the right BF% then you need a Dexa Scan or a BodPod.

    Body fat % has nothing to do with height or weight.
    Me and a friend had both a Dexa scan done. She is 5'6 and weights 115lbs. She was tested with 27.3% BF
    I'm 5'2 and 130lbs. Mine came at 20.3%

    It's called skinny fat :wink:

    If you really want to have the accurate %, get a Dexa or Bodpod test

    well, I don't doubt the possibility I am skinny fat. I am tiny boned and am not muscular. but still...I figured fat would be lost first, and I am underweight. I guess I just have a lot of fat to lose.

    where do they do the Dexa scans?
  • Escape_Artist
    Escape_Artist Posts: 1,155 Member
    A dexa scan is a bone density scan actually. So some medical facilities will have the equipment.

    I don't know where you live so I can't send you locations, but a search in google will probably be best. Some universities have Bodpod.

    About fat to lose, don't confuse fat loss with weight loss. Most skinny fat people just need a good dose of heavy lifting. It just means you have very little muscle. It's not healthy but nothing heavy lifting can't fix :flowerforyou:
  • rosemary98
    rosemary98 Posts: 632
    A dexa scan is a bone density scan actually. So some medical facilities will have the equipment.

    I don't know where you live so I can't send you locations, but a search in google will probably be best. Some universities have Bodpod.

    About fat to lose, don't confuse fat loss with weight loss. Most skinny fat people just need a good dose of heavy lifting. It just means you have very little muscle. It's not healthy but nothing heavy lifting can't fix :flowerforyou:
    thanks for the info. I am going to join a health club and talk to a personal trainer...hopefully he/she can lead me in the right direction. I certainly don't want to be carrying around a fourth of my weight in fat. ridiculous!
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    A dexa scan is a bone density scan actually. So some medical facilities will have the equipment.

    I don't know where you live so I can't send you locations, but a search in google will probably be best. Some universities have Bodpod.

    About fat to lose, don't confuse fat loss with weight loss. Most skinny fat people just need a good dose of heavy lifting. It just means you have very little muscle. It's not healthy but nothing heavy lifting can't fix :flowerforyou:
    thanks for the info. I am going to join a health club and talk to a personal trainer...hopefully he/she can lead me in the right direction. I certainly don't want to be carrying around a fourth of my weight in fat. ridiculous!

    25% body fat is right in the middle of the healthy range for women.... so carrying around a quarter of your weight in fat is not ridiculous at all, it's healthy. The healthy range for women is 18-28% Obese is 35%+ So 25% is in the healthy range. You're supposed to have fat on your body, for metabolic and hormonal reasons.

    I do agree regarding lifting and building up your muscles though, because this is great for preventing osteoporosis, if you're underweight for your height and frame size, you'll be at greater risk for this, but lifting weights and building up your strength will help to increase your bone density.

    I concur re the circumference calculators being inaccurate though.... just that I think it's important to know what the healthy body fat percentage range is.
  • scottdsexton
    scottdsexton Posts: 25 Member
    I have tried numerous calculators and am getting my body fat at 25%-30%. Howe

    I weight 97.2
    waist: 24
    wrist: 5.5
    forearm: 8
    hips:31
    calves: 11

    Are these big numbers here? strangely, when I changed my weight to 160...my body fat didn't really change. wow...what are the measurements of someone with little body fat?
  • scottdsexton
    scottdsexton Posts: 25 Member
    I have tried numerous calculators and am getting my body fat at 25%-30%. Howe

    I weight 97.2
    waist: 24
    wrist: 5.5
    forearm: 8
    hips:31
    calves: 11

    Are these big numbers here? strangely, when I changed my weight to 160...my body fat didn't really change. wow...what are the measurements of someone with little body fat?

    I can tell you seem to be bothered by this parameter but I think you are focusing on the wrong thing. At your size fat is obviously not an issue. Focus on other things like exercise and nutrition and forget about the %BF. Your range is fine.
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    Although it's certainly possible that you have 25%-30% body fat, which isn't an unusual amount at all, you aren't using an accurate method to measure your body fat. I've tried the calculators - they say I have somewhere between 6% and 30% body fat, and I don't worry about it because I don't take it seriously.
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    Although it's certainly possible that you have 25%-30% body fat, which isn't an unusual amount at all, you aren't using an accurate method to measure your body fat. I've tried the calculators - they say I have somewhere between 6% and 30% body fat, and I don't worry about it because I don't take it seriously.

    I had one tell me I had minus something body fat before :laugh:
  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    I have tried numerous calculators and am getting my body fat at 25%-30%. Howe

    I weight 97.2
    waist: 24
    wrist: 5.5
    forearm: 8
    hips:31
    calves: 11

    Are these big numbers here? strangely, when I changed my weight to 160...my body fat didn't really change. wow...what are the measurements of someone with little body fat?
    I had the same question when I did the online calculations. Guess what, with my measurements I got close to the same results, and, no matter what I changed them to, got similar %. I think that is the limitation of using an online calculator for bf%. It can't possibly know what your body composition is. Your measurements are very small for your height. I would suggest eating more and lifting:)
  • rosemary98
    rosemary98 Posts: 632
    I know fat shouldn't be an issue. but i had this measuring tape and figured i try to figure my body fat out...i would find it strange that a woman of 97 pounds and nearly 5'6'' could carry 25% body fat...because i do have bone, muscle, organs, water ,etc...in my body. but i don't really know. i have been through weight restoration treatment before, but body fat was never mentioned.
  • Bettyeditor
    Bettyeditor Posts: 327 Member
    If you have lost weight but your bodyfat percentage didn't change, that means that you lost muscle right along with the fat. It's only true that fat is the first to go if you 1) eat enough protein while you are losing to maintain your current muscle mass 2) use only a small deficit while you lose (10-15% below what you burn), and 3) if you engage in strength-training exercise while you lose.

    If you cut your calories more than 10-15% while you lose, then your body does not have enough calories to maintain your vital organs, hair, nails, etc. and fuel your activity, so it will seek to dial down and depress your metabolism to adapt. The best way to do that is to cannibalize muscle mass. So.... depending on how you lose, muscle can easily be the first to go.
  • Bettyeditor
    Bettyeditor Posts: 327 Member
    And incidentally, it is impossible to calculate body fat with a measuring tape. The best ways are:

    1) A scale that measures bodyfat (like Withings or Fitbit ARIA)
    2) Calipers
    3) Online calculators that estimate bodyfat
  • rosemary98
    rosemary98 Posts: 632
    i thought i was eating enough protein. i had a baby which left me at 102 pounds which maybe left me with bone loss.. i guess maybe i didn't eat enough protein...and i certainly wasn't strength training. i hope to get this sorted out.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    i thought i was eating enough protein. i had a baby which left me at 102 pounds which maybe left me with bone loss.. i guess maybe i didn't eat enough protein...and i certainly wasn't strength training. i hope to get this sorted out.

    You lost bone by having a baby?
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    i thought i was eating enough protein. i had a baby which left me at 102 pounds which maybe left me with bone loss.. i guess maybe i didn't eat enough protein...and i certainly wasn't strength training. i hope to get this sorted out.

    You lost bone by having a baby?

    this is not far fetched at all, although it's more likely to happen while breastfeeding than during pregnancy, as the baby needs more calcium in infancy than while gestating (this is when the bones are being calcified). But if the mother isn't eating enough calcium, then the calcium needed for the baby will come from her bones. Ditto iron and blood, healthy fat and brain tissue and protein and muscles. Insufficient nutrition during pregnancy has health consequences for the mother long before it affects the baby.
  • stefjc
    stefjc Posts: 484 Member
    Let's not dwell on Rosemary's baby!


    Can we all repeat, 25-30% body fat is normal.

    If you have had 'weight restoration treatment' before you need to take your persistence (obsession?) with this question as a hint to yourself that maybe, just maybe, you need to seek some advice from closer to home. Your doctor or counsellor, perhaps.

    But you certainly need to stop dwelling on losing any more weight, fat, muscle bone or water.

    Please!
  • rosemary98
    rosemary98 Posts: 632
    yes, while i ate adequate amounts of all food groups during pregnancy...i simply didn't eat enough. babes took what it needed, leaving me a bit deficient. he is strong, smart and healthy at 16-months, by the way. yay!

    i just need to figure out how to keep healthy in all aspects of food an nutrition.
  • Escape_Artist
    Escape_Artist Posts: 1,155 Member
    25% body fat is right in the middle of the healthy range for women.... so carrying around a quarter of your weight in fat is not ridiculous at all, it's healthy. The healthy range for women is 18-28% Obese is 35%+ So 25% is in the healthy range. You're supposed to have fat on your body, for metabolic and hormonal reasons.

    I do agree regarding lifting and building up your muscles though, because this is great for preventing osteoporosis, if you're underweight for your height and frame size, you'll be at greater risk for this, but lifting weights and building up your strength will help to increase your bone density.

    I concur re the circumference calculators being inaccurate though.... just that I think it's important to know what the healthy body fat percentage range is.

    ^^

    Damn phone posting half my comments :grumble:

    25-30% is normal. Above that can be of a concern, in my opinion.
    If I remember correctly I was once told that the recommended minimum BF% for a women to carry a child was around 22%. Not sure if that is true but I would think it makes sense.

    OP, if bodyfat concerns you get an accurate scan. If I were you I wouldn't sweat it though. As I and others have said, start lifting

    @Bettyeditor, all three methods you mentioned are inaccurate. I once had a scale test me at 4.7%. Then calipers tested me at 37% and the online calculator says 28%. :noway:

    Dexa gave me 20.3% and Bodpod 20.2%
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    And incidentally, it is impossible to calculate body fat with a measuring tape. The best ways are:

    1) A scale that measures bodyfat (like Withings or Fitbit ARIA)
    2) Calipers
    3) Online calculators that estimate bodyfat

    The best way is the water displacement test, and it requires special equipment.
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    Let's not dwell on Rosemary's baby!


    Can we all repeat, 25-30% body fat is normal.

    If you have had 'weight restoration treatment' before you need to take your persistence (obsession?) with this question as a hint to yourself that maybe, just maybe, you need to seek some advice from closer to home. Your doctor or counsellor, perhaps.

    But you certainly need to stop dwelling on losing any more weight, fat, muscle bone or water.

    Please!

    It's normal, and not unhealthy, however 18% is also normal and not unhealthy.

    @Rosemary, if you lost bone mass during a pregnancy, now would be a good time to start weight training, getting some weight bearing exercise, and eating a healthy diet that is very close to your maintenance level. You can sort out any body fat loss later. You need healthy bones, now and for the rest of your life. What does your doctor say about your bones?

    P.S. Don't take online body fat calculators seriously.
  • wild_wild_life
    wild_wild_life Posts: 1,334 Member
    If you are underweight with a BF% in the normal range, it means you are lacking in muscle mass. Losing more fat will not remedy this, but eating at a surplus while strength training will. By increasing your lean body mass, your BF% will go down (not that it necessarily needs to).

    Strength training will also help increase bone density.

    Agree with the posters above that accurate BF% can only be measured by a bod pod or similar technique, not at home. In your case, though, I think the number is immaterial.
  • wild_wild_life
    wild_wild_life Posts: 1,334 Member
    Let's not dwell on Rosemary's baby!

    LOL
  • bumblebums
    bumblebums Posts: 2,181 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/830595-body-fat-estimation-methods

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/measuring-body-composition-part-1.html

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/measuring-body-composition-part-2.html
  • rosemary98
    rosemary98 Posts: 632
    i thought i was eating enough protein. i had a baby which left me at 102 pounds which maybe left me with bone loss.. i guess maybe i didn't eat enough protein...and i certainly wasn't strength training. i hope to get this sorted out.

    You lost bone by having a baby?

    this is not far fetched at all, although it's more likely to happen while breastfeeding than during pregnancy, as the baby needs more calcium in infancy than while gestating (this is when the bones are being calcified). But if the mother isn't eating enough calcium, then . Insufficient nutrition during pregnancy has health consequences for the mother long before it affects the baby.

    thanks for this post.

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