Body fat% question..

megz4987
megz4987 Posts: 1,008 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
So I used a website to calculate my body fat... This is what it told me:
Body Fat: 25.95 %
Fat Weight: 61.5 pounds
Lean Weight: 175.5 pounds

Ok, so according to a bmi calculator, 175lb, I'd still be overweight. 3 years ago I was 140lb, strong, etc
So how does that even make sense?

Replies

  • CraftyGirl4
    CraftyGirl4 Posts: 571 Member
    I'm confused by your question. Are you wondering how at 175 lbs, you can be overweight? How tall are you?
  • bunchesonothing
    bunchesonothing Posts: 1,015 Member
    Websites that figure it out are estimates at best.
  • timanda2
    timanda2 Posts: 149
    what site did you use?
  • ajbeans
    ajbeans Posts: 2,857 Member
    Couple of points:

    BMI isn't necessarily a good indicator of health. Bodybuilders are "overweight" or even "obese" in terms of BMI. Body fat percentage is a much better indicator of health.

    As you lose weight, you will not lose *just* fat. You will also lose some muscle mass, unless you're doing significant resistance training. So the lean number will go down as you lose weight, although hopefully it won't go down as quickly as the fat number.
  • Egger29
    Egger29 Posts: 14,741 Member
    I don't believe a website will be able to give you a very accurate account of your Body Fat %age unless you're inputting skinfold measurements into the site. That being said, even skinfold measurements are accurate only when done by an individual trained in their use.

    Household scales that measure the Bio-Electrical Impedance are generally accurate to a +- 1-3% depending on the scale.

    BMI doesn't account for body composition and is an inaccurate measure for any individual who has a fair %age of lean mass.
    Athletes and individuals with a larger bone/muscle structure will ALWAYS be in the Obese or at least Overweight range, even when they are not.

    If you just go by BMI, then an NFL Quarterback would similarly be considered "Obese". The average Body Fat %age of an NHL player (Considered the Elite athletic standard in sports), is 9%....yet, I can guarantee you won't find many 6' tall players who are between 157 and 183lbs (Recommended according to BMI).
  • rnroadrunner
    rnroadrunner Posts: 402 Member
    Couple of points:

    BMI isn't necessarily a good indicator of health. Bodybuilders are "overweight" or even "obese" in terms of BMI. Body fat percentage is a much better indicator of health.

    As you lose weight, you will not lose *just* fat. You will also lose some muscle mass, unless you're doing significant resistance training. So the lean number will go down as you lose weight, although hopefully it won't go down as quickly as the fat number.

    this is why you want to lose slowly. the faster you lose the more muscle loss.
  • megz4987
    megz4987 Posts: 1,008 Member
    I'm confused by your question. Are you wondering how at 175 lbs, you can be overweight? How tall are you?

    No, I'm confused as to how it's telling me I have 175lb of lean body and yet I was 175lb beforeI got pregnant and was a bit chubby. At 140lb, I think Iooked decent. I'm 5'8
  • ChantalGG
    ChantalGG Posts: 2,404 Member
    Carrying that much weight on your body could have made your muscle larger then when you were 140... You can be fit at 175... Maybe try another site that has a BMI for men and women because 175 seems to be a man's perfect weight not really an ideal goal for a women. Although if i looked good at 175lb i would be happy.
  • Crimson21
    Crimson21 Posts: 148 Member
    Websites are not good for finding out your true body fat %. The only accurate way you can figure out your true body fat % is to see a registered exercise physiologist. They figure out your body fat % by using a dunk tank or taking skin fold measurements. Websites only use approximate estimations which may be accurate for some but completely off track for others.
  • CarolynB38
    CarolynB38 Posts: 553 Member
    You're right, that doesn't seem to make sense. There are several on-line body fat calculators. Perhaps try another and see what results you get from them. I presume you would lose some lean mass as well as fat but that does seem like rather a lot. You don't say how much you currently weigh (and I don't want to ask you cuz it's none of my business) but this calculator is suggesting that you weigh 237 lb. If this is wrong then this calculator is definitely wrong and you should try another.

    I tried a few different body fat calculators and it varied from 27.7 to 43%!!!! I don't think they are that accurate but I suppose they are useful for seeing if you have lost fat, provided you stick with the same one once you've made a decision of which one to use. Different ones use different measurement. I have really skinny wrists so any that use wrist measurements give me a lower value. I also have heavy hips and a small waist so I really depends on the formula they are using with your measurements. If they are biased toward the hip measurement then I get a very high value.

    The only really accurate way of measuring your body fat is with callipers at the different places on your body and using a formula to work it out. Some gyms or personal trainers can do it for you. Body fat scales are another option although they aren't as accurate. But as long as you don't measure your body fat too often it does give you a pretty good idea how things are going. If you decide to try body fat weighing scales make sure you do it first thing in the morning before you eat or drink anything.

    I don't tend to bother with body fat measurements. I know I have to much of the squishy stuff and I know how I feel when I have the right amount so I just go by my weight and my body measurements and how I feel.

    Good luck with it all :)
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