BODY FAT VS. BODY MASS INDEX

According to the standard body fat percentage range (http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/library/blbodyfatcharts.htm), you're percentage is perfectly in the "healthy" range (21-33%). I think you were looking at the BMI range when comparing Body Fat % instead of Body Fat % profiles. They are different measurements. The healthy BMI range is 18-25. For both measurements, you are in the healthy range. Hope this helps.

Body fat is much more accurate then body mass index. BMI is an index used for the masses to stratify risk of disease because it is easy to do and doesn't actually require any contact with the person being measured. Body fat is much more accurate on an individual basis because it quantifies fat mass and fat free mass. High fat mass increases risk for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, atherosclerosis, stroke, cancer, etc., etc., etc. So, knowing your fat mass is much more beneficial then knowing how your weight compares to the square of your height, which is all BMI is. You can be a low weight and be a high % of fat. If you lose fat and build muscle, you can remain the same weight but be in a smaller size. Doing so will decrease your risk of all the above mentioned diseases.

My sister and I are a great example of this principle. I weight 40-50 pounds more then she does so I score as obese on the BMI charts. She, however, doesn't exercise and scores as healthy on the BMI charts. But her body fat is much higher then mine so when you look at us, you would think she weighed more. She is in a size 18-20, whereas I'm in an 8-10. Looking at our disease risk, she has high blood pressure already (she's only 35, and she's had it for 10 years) and is at a high risk of cardiovascular issues. I on the other hand have been tested by a cardiologist with electrocardiogram and echocardiogram and have been told I have the heart of an 18 year old (I'm 38 BTW), so I'll take my extra 50 pounds and be happy with it because I know my muscle and lack of high body fat is much healthier then her "healthy" reading on the BMI chart.

That being said, the accuracy of a body fat calculation can be questioned. Unless you have a trained professional measure your body fat, it's not going to be as accurate. Also, the formulas where you put your measurements in online are the least accurate way to do it yourself. If you are going to try and get an accurate measurement, I'd recommend a bio-electrical impedance machine for at home use. Thats the scales or the handheld. Know that the handheld will read a little low and the scale will read a little high. Neither will be accurate though, if you aren't well hydrated. So make sure you don't use one at home while dehydrated or during that time of the month. Body water level will throw them off quite a bit.

You could always see if a doctor could do a body fat test, or someone else who is trained to do it but doesn't have any sort of sales quota to meet :P

Gyms try to sell their personal training packages at fitness consultations, so many of the consultants may be pushy or fudge the numbers a bit. I would hope that a reputable gym wouldn't do that and still give you the facts straight up, since many people can't afford the personal training! (I know at my gym that it's nearly 1000 bucks for 12 sessions! Um, no.)

underwater water body fat testing is the gold standard followed by caliper test by a trained and experienced professional the scales and and handheld devices are good for following a trend but can be very inaccurate.

How was your BF tested? usually the BF is more accurate and the BMI is high because BMI does not take into account lean body mass and can give you a number that is to high.

Based on your numbers your in the healthy range for both depending what charts you look at. 5 foot 2 and 117 makes you a BMI of 21 which is healthy. I will not comment on Body fat because I am not sure how accurate it is. The number is higher than expected for BMI and your hight weight ratio and I would suspect the analysis was not the most accurate. probably 2 to 3 percentage points off and as much as 5 to 7 if it is one of the electronic measurements.

If you are healthy, fit, and your clothes fit the way you want then don't worry about those numbers in an absolute sense.

one of the members had mentioned a physician measuring your BF but as a physician myself I can tell you most would not even know how to begin to take the measurements. Just find a person that has good calipers and is experienced in taking the measurements. You could pay 100 plus to get the Hydrostatic testing underwater if the exact number is very important.

Good luck

Sorry, I forgot to include the chart that ACE uses with those formulas, so here it is.

Women
Essential fat = 10-13%
Athletes = 14-20%
Fitness = 21-24%
Average = 25-31%
Obese = 32% or higher

Men
Essential fat = 2-5%
Athletes = 6-13%
Fitness = 14-17%
Average = 18-24%
Obese = 25% or higher