Body Fat percentage

[Beccarollover]

My sister bought some new scales which measure what percentage of your body is fat - mine was 32.5% - sounds disgusting but not sure if its ok or not - obviously want it to be less!!

Has anyone else had a go on body fat scales?

I gather you mean Body Mass index (BMI)? This is what the weight watchers site has to say on it:

Body Mass Index (BMI) is an assessment generally used by GPs and health experts to determine if a person is underweight, overweight or within a healthy weight range.

Experts generally consider a BMI below 20 to be underweight and a BMI of 20 to 25 to be healthy. BMIs of 25 to 30 are generally considered overweight while a BMI over 30 is generally considered very overweight.

If you go here and keep playing with your weight - bringing it down gradually - you can work out how much you "should" weigh for you BMI to be in the different categories.

No, not BMI - mine is about 23 I think - it actually calculates how much of your body is fat

If my BMI was 32.5 I think I would be in trouble!

Hi.

I've used 'culipers'. I think that's the name. A horrid, little plastic thing that pinches the excess skin. Looks like some kind of torture instrument - which indeed, it is. Not heard of scales.

I don't pay too much attention to the BMI table. I have a BMI of 25.3 which puts me in the overweight category but have a bodyfat index of 18% as I work out.

Oh no, not done that at all and sounds like I don't want to know that kind of information How does it work? And what should a woman's body fat index be?

Sorry Becca - didn't read your figure properly! Yes 32% BMI may be somewhat worrying

Done some more research and found this:

How much is too much body fat ?
It is generally accepted that men should have less than 18% total body fat and women 23% or less, However, experts suggest that an excess is not particularly hazardous to health until an individual accumulates 35% and 40% total body fat respectively. Such levels definitely constitute obesity and potentially, if not most probably, have a detrimental effect on one's health. Body fat percentage can be determined using a pair of callipers.

Came from here

oh so im rather fat then - am size 12 so not too big but obviously mostly lard!!!! urgh

LOL Becca! I am sure that isn't the case! I dread to think what mine is - I just would rather not know I think.

Hiya Becca, I recently had my body fat % done. Mine was 32% too. My BMI is 25 and I'm size 10 or 12, depending on the shop. The one I used scanned your body to find out the %. The national healthy average is 25% I was told. Hence I'm now shifting my %!! Am currently exercising alot more and doing SW, lost 4lbs in 2 weeks, excuse me for blowing my own trumpet slightly!

Hiya Becca, I recently had my body fat % done. Mine was 32% too. My BMI is 25 and I'm size 10 or 12, depending on the shop. The one I used scanned your body to find out the %. The national healthy average is 25% I was told. Hence I'm now shifting my %!! Am currently exercising alot more and doing SW, lost 4lbs in 2 weeks, excuse me for blowing my own trumpet slightly!

I read somewhere recently whilst looking for bargain scales on the net that the bodyfat monitor scales (the ones I had intended buying) were not terribly accurate. The best way to properly measure bodyfat is with calipers. I will try and find the link for you.

Have a look here .