What is "skinny fat" please?

kathiemcn
kathiemcn Posts: 96
edited October 6 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi, I've read some references to "skinny fat" on here but have no idea what it is. Can someone please enlighten me? :flowerforyou:

Replies

  • KokomoJoe
    KokomoJoe Posts: 435
    It is a person who appears to be slim, however has a fair bit of body fat on them.
  • MJ7910
    MJ7910 Posts: 1,280 Member
    someone who has no muscle tone but is at a low weight for their height.
  • servilia
    servilia Posts: 3,452 Member
    When someone is thin or skinny but they actually have a high body fat % so it's mostly flab = not what we want! :)
  • ansonrinesmith
    ansonrinesmith Posts: 741 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/392784-skinny-fat-vs-fit-photo?error_user_id=9800400&error_username=ansonrinesmith&hl=skinny+fat
  • raisingbabyk
    raisingbabyk Posts: 442 Member
    ugh really?! I don't want to be skinny fat :ohwell: I need to start toning more.
  • sailorsiren13
    sailorsiren13 Posts: 460
    i have known people who were "skinny fat" they could eat whatever and drink whatever but they usually have no muscle tone and and not fit at all. I could outrun some of my friends that are like that.
  • BobbyClerici
    BobbyClerici Posts: 813 Member
    These are those poor souls afflicted with poor health and high bodyfat, yet, their BMI is "normal".
  • mattquit
    mattquit Posts: 175
    i think you saw that on my topic. i thought skinny fat was people who are skinny but have a big belly. like the people they show in the brochures for africa food donations.

    ps im not being racist
  • prettyfitchick
    prettyfitchick Posts: 502 Member
    my bf is skinny fat he is naturally thin 6 feet tall and weights 142 but he eats like a fat person i keeping telling he will have high blood pressure one day and very lazy he cant even keep up with me the one time he tried to go jogging with me he stop about after 10 mins and 5 of them was the warm up walking he has no muscle on him at all
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    someone who has no muscle tone but is at a low weight for their height.

    This ^^ is the definition most often used here by those that lift weights, but if you hear the term from a medical professional they will likely mean something different. In health care "skinny fat" refers to people who are not overweight but stil have visceral fat around their organs. This can be true even if you have a lot of muscle.
  • honor82
    honor82 Posts: 23
    I always thought it meant someone who is thin, but eats crap like fast food and junk food.
  • Hirundo
    Hirundo Posts: 148 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/392784-skinny-fat-vs-fit-photo?error_user_id=9800400&error_username=ansonrinesmith&hl=skinny+fat

    This !
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    Hi, I've read some references to "skinny fat" on here but have no idea what it is. Can someone please enlighten me? :flowerforyou:


    Typically a skinny fat male will have slim arms and legs with very little muscularity and while clothed he will look moderately healthy, maybe you'll see somewhat of a gut on him through his shirt.

    Then the shirt comes off.... kids run away screaming, the nun starts praying, the Benny Hill Theme plays in the background , you're choking back tears and trying to hold your vomit reflex while this poor *kitten* talks about how great it is not eating white bread and how he is so glad he lifts the 5 pounders after his 80 minute elliptical jaunt.


    Or something like that.
  • ilookthetype
    ilookthetype Posts: 3,021 Member
    "skinny fat" in my mind is simply out of shape skinny people. Can't lift, can't run, etc.
  • kathiemcn
    kathiemcn Posts: 96
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/392784-skinny-fat-vs-fit-photo?error_user_id=9800400&error_username=ansonrinesmith&hl=skinny+fat

    Thanks guys, now I understand perfectly. I think I might be heading that way so I need to start toning more. Thanks for the heads-up! :happy:
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    i think you saw that on my topic. i thought skinny fat was people who are skinny but have a big belly. like the people they show in the brochures for africa food donations.

    ps im not being racist

    Um. Those people are starving to death. Their bellies are distended because of malnutrition.
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    Hi, I've read some references to "skinny fat" on here but have no idea what it is. Can someone please enlighten me? :flowerforyou:


    Typically a skinny fat male will have slim arms and legs with very little muscularity and while clothed he will look moderately healthy, maybe you'll see somewhat of a gut on him through his shirt.

    Then the shirt comes off.... kids run away screaming, the nun starts praying, the Benny Hill Theme plays in the background , you're choking back tears and trying to hold your vomit reflex while this poor *kitten* talks about how great it is not eating white bread and how he is so glad he lifts the 5 pounders after his 80 minute elliptical jaunt.


    Or something like that.

    LOL. Talk the words right out of my mouth.
  • sylvuz323
    sylvuz323 Posts: 468 Member
    An ex co-worker of mine was using the word "skinny fat" to refer to people who were aiming for the higher weight within their weight range. So because I wanted to be at 154 lbs instead of 124lbs made me "skinny fat" in her eyes. She felt people should be aiming for the 120's. I found it hard to believe that she never took into consideration a persons height or body type.
  • dlcam61
    dlcam61 Posts: 228 Member
    http://www.crossfitsouthbay.com/2011/05/skinny-fat/

    This is a good article to look at as well.
  • Silverkittycat
    Silverkittycat Posts: 1,997 Member
    wow. So many different definitions! :laugh:

    I've never known it to have anything to do with being "fit". I thought it was just an excess of visceral fat, surrounding internal organs and causing all those health risks.
  • Silverkittycat
    Silverkittycat Posts: 1,997 Member
    someone who has no muscle tone but is at a low weight for their height.

    This ^^ is the definition most often used here by those that lift weights, but if you hear the term from a medical professional they will likely mean something different. In health care "skinny fat" refers to people who are not overweight but stil have visceral fat around their organs. This can be true even if you have a lot of muscle.

    Oh, I get it! I should have read the responses thoroughly before posting. :embarassed:
  • zumba89
    zumba89 Posts: 82
    To me skinny fat is someone that can't do zumba for the hour and look at you like" are you kidding me". While your getting down and the only break you have is a water break. This maybe mean but this has happen and i have had people look at me like your fat how are you able to do this lol.
  • Kymmu
    Kymmu Posts: 1,650 Member
    I've been told I'm skinny fat. they said I was thin but with low muscle tone......I'm now jogging and lifting weights.
  • treesha450
    treesha450 Posts: 321 Member
    My boyfriend, said a girl who we know- who is by definition "skinny fat" looks like "100 pounds of mush."


    I know- not nice, but the "100 pounds of mush" seems like a good alternative wording for skinny fat.
  • kathiemcn
    kathiemcn Posts: 96
    Thanks guys. Got it!
  • Lyadeia
    Lyadeia Posts: 4,603 Member
    I'm skinny fat. Just 1 month ago, I was 150 pounds, size 8, normal BMI...35% body fat.

    I started lifting heavy weights, reduced the marathon cardio sessions...and I am now 142 pounds, size 8, normal BMI...28% body fat.

    Anyway, skinny fat is best described by someone who appears to be thin but carried a lot of fat, whether visceral or subcutaneous. You can easily become skinny fat if you do nothing but cardio and diet. You can easily avoid (or "cure") skinny fat by picking up heavy things and putting them back down. Those "cardio scuplting" things where you use light weights for a bazillion reps in an hour don't help.

    If I would have done weight lifting since the beginning of my journey, I would not have to wait extra time to reach my goal. Body fat % is my goal, not weight.
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