We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Body fat%

karmaheart
karmaheart Posts: 75 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
What is a healthy % for a 38 yo female? I'm 5'4" @ 120 pounds.

Replies

  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    22 to 33 % roughly

    But your scales are no giving you an accurate reading ...bio impedence has a huge margin of error
  • karmaheart
    karmaheart Posts: 75 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    22 to 33 % roughly

    But your scales are no giving you an accurate reading ...bio impedence has a huge margin of error

    I'm at 21%
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    On a bio impedence scale or dexa scan?
  • karmaheart
    karmaheart Posts: 75 Member
    Fat caliper
  • Equus5374
    Equus5374 Posts: 462 Member
    IS there an accurate (and accessible) way to measure body fat percentage? I notice that some calorie calculators will give an estimate as well.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    karmaheart wrote: »
    Fat caliper

    Done by who? How many points? Also prone to error
  • Springfield1970
    Springfield1970 Posts: 1,945 Member
    What's wrong with under 22%? I was at 15-16% for a while in the healthy BMI range, and all the research I read just pointed out that below 15 was unhealthy.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    I'm not being picky ..but even in expert hands, 9 point tests and metal calipers they are accurate within 3.5%
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    edited February 2016
    Springfield1970 wrote: »
    What's wrong with under 22%? I was at 15-16% for a while in the healthy BMI range, and all the research I read just pointed out that below 15 was unhealthy.

    It's based on a research article by Gallagher et al published in 2000 although I have to say that there remains some further research required ...I believe the fat percentage was mapped to BMI and health outcomes ...so again a population measure which is difficult to equate on an individual basis. But basically for women aged 20-40 anything under 21% was deemed underfat ...so read unhealthy ..I think for men the equivalent was under 8%

    I'd take it with a pinch of salt personally ...athletes can have low body fat, age changes the ranges

    Anyway this is the paper http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/72/3/694.long#sec-7
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Equus5374 wrote: »
    IS there an accurate (and accessible) way to measure body fat percentage? I notice that some calorie calculators will give an estimate as well.

    Dexa scan, bod pod, or hydrotank. I checked out my area, they run $50-75. The hydrotank is done using a mobile unit and they around my way regularly. I haven't had it done yet, but plan to when I get close to goal weight.

    Scales can be off 10% or more either way. I just asked about it in the "Fitness" forum a couple days ago.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    edited February 2016
    Anyway this is the standard BF chart

    xg2y6l2bp3gw.jpeg


    z8b3gra0zf72.jpeg
  • Springfield1970
    Springfield1970 Posts: 1,945 Member
    Interesting. Thanks.

    Does that mean I can have more cake?
  • senecarr
    senecarr Posts: 5,377 Member
    lorrpb wrote: »
    Equus5374 wrote: »
    IS there an accurate (and accessible) way to measure body fat percentage? I notice that some calorie calculators will give an estimate as well.

    Dexa scan, bod pod, or hydrotank. I checked out my area, they run $50-75. The hydrotank is done using a mobile unit and they around my way regularly. I haven't had it done yet, but plan to when I get close to goal weight.

    Scales can be off 10% or more either way. I just asked about it in the "Fitness" forum a couple days ago.

    I'd check with local universities. One in my area offered DEXA scanning for $40. Some use them for studies and you could get a free scan just by participating in a study, along with whatever other reimbursements they offer for being a human Guinea Pig.
  • karmaheart
    karmaheart Posts: 75 Member
    edited February 2016
    https://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&client=ms-android-sprint-us&source=android-browser&q=womens+body+fat+%+pics#imgrc=xlvzQ02d_hKHlM:

    Based on this I think it is pretty accurate
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Sight is probably a closer read TBH

    So how does this help you decide on your goals?
  • karmaheart
    karmaheart Posts: 75 Member
    I would like to get down to 19
This discussion has been closed.

Categories