Floored about BF results
Julesatlivhealth
Posts: 9 Member
Hi everyone! I just had a dexa done which they say is very accurate. I am 5'2 and 104 pounds. 19 BMI.
I am also a nutritionist and a fitness
Instructor and eat clean 99% of the time. It told Me my Body fat was 32%, meaning
I'm obese.....I am completely baffled as I do not eat junk, really ever and I workout 6 times a week (5 of them weight training) or more bc of my teaching spin. This makes zero sense to me.
Any help??
0
Replies
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that definitely sounds wrong.5
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There's no way...the test got *kitten* up somehow.3
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I'm curious. Why do you want help? At 32 BF%, you are safely away from the dangerous sub-20% area.
Every other word in your post indicates that you are healthy, sane, happy, and the picture is of a pretty woman.
Is bf%=32 some kind of psychological hang-up for you?7 -
OP, I am guessing that your DEXA was just plain old wrong. Last August I had a DEXA that said my bf was 36.3% which...no. Not right. After a bit of reading I learned that while DEXA is often referred to as the gold standard, it is not very accurate on an individual basis and not accurate for comparison over time. James Krieger has a really good series about various body fat measurement methods. I encourage you to read the series but here's the part about DEXA:
http://weightology.net/the-pitfalls-of-body-fat-measurement-part-6-dexa/
Note:A number of studies have compared DEXA to 4-compartment models. When looking at group averages, DEXA does pretty well, with errors of 1-2%. However, like with all other body fat testing techniques, individual error rates can be much higher. The error rates vary by what study you look at and which DEXA machine was used; error rates range from 4% in one study to up to 8-10% in another study. Also, the accuracy of DEXA can be affected by sex, size, fatness, and disease state of subjects.
In other words, your BF% may be 28-36% or it may be 22-42%. Not useful and not something that should make you feel bad.7 -
Something was messed up. I'd ask them to redo it.3
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Hi there
I'm not really asking
For help, I am asking if
Anyone has any insight into a DEXA and how accurate they are. I have had issues in my past with bone density (due to an illness over 10 years ago) and that was really the reason I went....when I found out the BF, I was floored,
So I just wanted to get some insight. Thanks so much!JeromeBarry1 wrote: »I'm curious. Why do you want help? At 32 BF%, you are safely away from the dangerous sub-20% area.
Every other word in your post indicates that you are healthy, sane, happy, and the picture is of a pretty woman.
Is bf%=32 some kind of psychological hang-up for you?
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JeromeBarry1 wrote: »I'm curious. Why do you want help? At 32 BF%, you are safely away from the dangerous sub-20% area.
Every other word in your post indicates that you are healthy, sane, happy, and the picture is of a pretty woman.
Is bf%=32 some kind of psychological hang-up for you?
Is feeling the need to pontificate on some body fat numbers you obviously don't understand some kind of psychological hang up for you?8 -
That number works out to a lean mass of 70lbs. Pretty much impossible.
That number is so off that any competent professional would not have even given it to you--they would say there was a gross error and redo/reschedule the test.5 -
JeromeBarry1 wrote: »I'm curious. Why do you want help? At 32 BF%, you are safely away from the dangerous sub-20% area.
Every other word in your post indicates that you are healthy, sane, happy, and the picture is of a pretty woman.
Is bf%=32 some kind of psychological hang-up for you?
shes not 32% body fat, and if she was 32% body fat it would be very concerning on more than a psychological level.4 -
something went wrong with the test. That's just not right. There's no way. Have them check with skinfold calipers to compare results.0
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Hi there
I'm not really asking
For help, I am asking if
Anyone has any insight into a DEXA and how accurate they are. I have had issues in my past with bone density (due to an illness over 10 years ago) and that was really the reason I went....when I found out the BF, I was floored,
So I just wanted to get some insight. Thanks so much!JeromeBarry1 wrote: »I'm curious. Why do you want help? At 32 BF%, you are safely away from the dangerous sub-20% area.
Every other word in your post indicates that you are healthy, sane, happy, and the picture is of a pretty woman.
Is bf%=32 some kind of psychological hang-up for you?
They are supposed to be very accurate, the method (along with hydrotank) considered to be the "gold standard."0 -
Hi there
I'm not really asking
For help, I am asking if
Anyone has any insight into a DEXA and how accurate they are. I have had issues in my past with bone density (due to an illness over 10 years ago) and that was really the reason I went....when I found out the BF, I was floored,
So I just wanted to get some insight. Thanks so much!
What were the results concerning your bone density...was it normal? Curious if low bone density could cause your lean body mass to be low enough to skew the bf% number.
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I've had 1 questionable DXA result out of 5 in the past year. So, it happens.
However, I've never had a questionable hydrostatic test result and DXA results are always 4-6% higher than my hydro results. Both supposedly can be off by 5% or more but based on my experience I'd say DXA is more susceptible to that degree of error than is hydro.
I think you should ask for a retest based on your BMI. If you and they are willing to take a gamble, ask for the retest to be free if the prior test is NOT confirmed and to pay for it, if it is.
Alternatively, get a hydostatic test done and compare the results. That's one reason that I do both. If your experience is the same as mine, the hydro result should be at least 4-6% lower than the DXA.2 -
Of all the posters in this thread so far, I'd listen to Azdak. He's the one with decades in the fitness industry.
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That number works out to a lean mass of 70lbs. Pretty much impossible.
That number is so off that any competent professional would not have even given it to you--they would say there was a gross error and redo/reschedule the test.
Hi Azdak
Thy printed out an entire report of my bone, lean mass and fat. It said 33 pounds of fat, which on me is 32% supposedly. I wish I could show you the whole report.
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I've had 1 questionable DXA result out of 5 in the past year. So, it happens.
However, I've never had a questionable hydrostatic test result and DXA results are always 4-6% higher than my hydro results. Both supposedly can be off by 5% or more but based on my experience I'd say DXA is more susceptible to that degree of error than is hydro.
I think you should ask for a retest based on your BMI. If you and they are willing to take a gamble, ask for the retest to be free if the prior test is NOT confirmed and to pay for it, if it is.
Alternatively, get a hydostatic test done and compare the results. That's one reason that I do both. If your experience is the same as mine, the hydro result should be at least 4-6% lower than the DXA.
Thank you for the insight!! Really appreciate it!
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Thank you for all the insight!!0
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Hi there
I'm not really asking
For help, I am asking if
Anyone has any insight into a DEXA and how accurate they are. I have had issues in my past with bone density (due to an illness over 10 years ago) and that was really the reason I went....when I found out the BF, I was floored,
So I just wanted to get some insight. Thanks so much!
What were the results concerning your bone density...was it normal? Curious if low bone density could cause your lean body mass to be low enough to skew the bf% number.
Hi!! Yea they said my bone density was less than average.....but that was it, and to see someone for it. My lean mass was also low (which I've been working to put lean mass on) so basically everything was low but my BF..thanks for the replies and insight!
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That number works out to a lean mass of 70lbs. Pretty much impossible.
That number is so off that any competent professional would not have even given it to you--they would say there was a gross error and redo/reschedule the test.
Hi Azdak
Thy printed out an entire report of my bone, lean mass and fat. It said 33 pounds of fat, which on me is 32% supposedly. I wish I could show you the whole report.
Thanks for sticking up for me!! I wasn't saying 32 is a bad number, It is just very baffling for
Me to be at that number with how I live
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Hi there
I'm not really asking
For help, I am asking if
Anyone has any insight into a DEXA and how accurate they are. I have had issues in my past with bone density (due to an illness over 10 years ago) and that was really the reason I went....when I found out the BF, I was floored,
So I just wanted to get some insight. Thanks so much!
What were the results concerning your bone density...was it normal? Curious if low bone density could cause your lean body mass to be low enough to skew the bf% number.
Hi!! Yea they said my bone density was less than average.....but that was it, and to see someone for it. My lean mass was also low (which I've been working to put lean mass on) so basically everything was low but my BF..thanks for the replies and insight!
Let bone density is odd if you mostly lift. Lifting is what road cyclists are supposed to do to improve our bone density.0 -
I have lifted on and off...I've been on for the past 5 months. However for many years I taught indoor cycling 10 times a week and couldn't find time for lifting, so that could've caused damage but lifting heavy now! Thanks so much!0
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If it's clear the bf% is way off, what makes anyone think the bone density reading is accurate?2
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There's a good chance if you were less hydrated it'd read a higher BF as it is to do with how easily electricity flows through the body (if it were the body comp scales).
If not go and get a proper skin fold measurement done, that'll be honest.
Just seen it was a DEXA scan... Not sure how or why that might be incorrect, could be very similar.
What was your water reading?0 -
Hi there
I'm not really asking
For help, I am asking if
Anyone has any insight into a DEXA and how accurate they are. I have had issues in my past with bone density (due to an illness over 10 years ago) and that was really the reason I went....when I found out the BF, I was floored,
So I just wanted to get some insight. Thanks so much!JeromeBarry1 wrote: »I'm curious. Why do you want help? At 32 BF%, you are safely away from the dangerous sub-20% area.
Every other word in your post indicates that you are healthy, sane, happy, and the picture is of a pretty woman.
Is bf%=32 some kind of psychological hang-up for you?
Pay no attention to this guy, he is rarely ever helpful and always "curious" for some reason. Asks more questions than he ever answers, at this point I really don't think he can help it. Dexa scans are very accurate but I would probably have that done again, nothing is infallible. I do remember thinking mine was high as well, maybe there is a difference in how the Dexa measures BF. Also if you're a little low in bone density make sure you are getting plenty of Vitamin D. Mine was projected to be low in the future and I was very low in D. A year later, I take 10,000 iu's a day and have been doing weight resistance training and my numbers are back to normal. This is all recommended by the Neurosurgeon I work for who recommends this to his spine patients and does this himself.0 -
I have lifted on and off...I've been on for the past 5 months. However for many years I taught indoor cycling 10 times a week and couldn't find time for lifting, so that could've caused damage but lifting heavy now! Thanks so much!
It could be that, but what I'm getting at is that it's probably just flat out wrong. Your body fat result is obviously out in left field, and I suspect your bone density result is probably in error, too.
You should get a new test and you shouldn't have to pay for it.0 -
That number works out to a lean mass of 70lbs. Pretty much impossible.
That number is so off that any competent professional would not have even given it to you--they would say there was a gross error and redo/reschedule the test.
Hi Azdak
Thy printed out an entire report of my bone, lean mass and fat. It said 33 pounds of fat, which on me is 32% supposedly. I wish I could show you the whole report.
Just an example: the lowest lean mass I have ever tested (34 years, more than 10,000 tests) is around 72-73 lbs. It was an older Japanese woman who was 4'10" tall, weighed 94 lbs, and looked emaciated. No one else I have ever tested has been below 81 lbs of lean mass.
You may skew more towards the "small frame, low muscle" side of the spectrum, but there is no physical attribute that can produce the numbers you received. There is no need to speculate about any reason other than test error IMO.
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