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

Body FAT percentage

mamajess82
mamajess82 Posts: 51
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
What is a good Body Fat percentage for a 28 year old woman?

The electric scales say mine is 20%. That doesn't sound right.

And what is the best way of measuring it?

Replies

  • ssstephanie1715
    ssstephanie1715 Posts: 44 Member
    I use a scale that measures body fat. The link below will tell you what range you need to be in.

    http://commonsensehealth.com/Healthy-Living/Healthy_Percentage_Body_Fat_Chart.shtml
  • RGPargy
    RGPargy Posts: 285 Member
    My WW scales say my body fat is about 60% lol. :laugh: :blushing: :blushing:
  • fh1951
    fh1951 Posts: 440 Member
    I use a scale that measures body fat. The link below will tell you what range you need to be in.

    http://commonsensehealth.com/Healthy-Living/Healthy_Percentage_Body_Fat_Chart.shtml

    thanks for that link
  • cgavin77
    cgavin77 Posts: 219
    Found this chart on www.bmi-calculator.net

    Body Fat Percentage Categories

    Classification

    Essential Fat : Woman (%fat) 10-12% Men (% fat) 2-4%
    Athletes : Woman (%fat 14-20% Men (% fat) 6-13%
    Fitness : Woman (%fat 21-24% Men (% fat) 14-17%
    Acceptable : Woman (%fat 25-31% Men (% fat) 18-25%
    Obese : Woman (%fat 32% + Men (% fat) 25% +
  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
    20% is good, anywhere from 17% to around 25% is pretty good for a woman in her 20's. You don't really want to go much lower than 15% though.
  • mamajess82
    mamajess82 Posts: 51
    What is a good Body Fat percentage for a 28 year old woman?

    The electric scales say mine is 20%. That doesn't sound right.

    And what is the best way of measuring it?

    Ok - so using bmi-calculator.net my body fat shows 26%!!!
  • libby328
    libby328 Posts: 287 Member
    If you have a membership at a gym they should have an electric machine that'll show you at least mine did
  • evesacks
    evesacks Posts: 94 Member
    My tanita scales first thing in the morning say 20%. This is consistent with the web based estimates which ask for hips / wrist / neck / waist measurements and also callipers (done by gym instructor).

    The scales give totally different readings at different times of the day - generally lower in the afternoon / evening - but IME its the morning reading thats closest to the callipers readings.

    My BMI is 20.5 and I am quite toned - I weigh 122lbs and am 5 foot 4 inches. I am 36, and have just lost over 50lbs!
  • welloiledmachine
    welloiledmachine Posts: 1,147 Member
    For more accuracy, you need to get a body fat caliper. They run about $20. Depending on how lean you want to be, will determine what body fat percentage you want. I'm at 15%. The leaner you get the more ab muscle you will see. I wouldn't go under 14%, but that's pretty ripped.
  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
    What is a good Body Fat percentage for a 28 year old woman?

    The electric scales say mine is 20%. That doesn't sound right.

    And what is the best way of measuring it?

    Ok - so using bmi-calculator.net my body fat shows 26%!!!

    BMI and body fat are two different things.
  • Somnifac
    Somnifac Posts: 30 Member
    BMI and body fat are two different things.

    That may be so, but bmi-calculator.net also has a body fat calculator on it as well.
  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
    BMI and body fat are two different things.

    That may be so, but bmi-calculator.net also has a body fat calculator on it as well.

    ok was unaware of that. Online body fat % calculators will be extremely rough guesses, just an FYI, better to get a bod pod test or a hydrostatic test (or DEXA if you can afford it)
This discussion has been closed.

Categories