Low BMI but high body fat. Do I need to take action?

[peskyfeelings]

First time posting on this board so hello all. :)

I'm trying to conceive at the moment, so my health has become a bit of an obsession for me!

I'm 5,4, and at the moment I weigh 7 and a half stone. This gives me a current BMI of 18. I know that this is technically underweight (even though I feel fit and healthy) and I really want to do something about it to improve my conception chances. I'm 37, so time is not on my side.

However, according to the calculations I have done online, my current body fat percentage is 25.6%. This is apparently at the upper limit of the acceptable range.

Should I be concerned? I'm really worried that I'm secretly really unhealthy without even knowing it. I eat quite healthy (even more so at the moment) and I also exercise by doing loads of walking, and also aerobics, circuits, horse riding. I'm fairly toned as well (not athlete standard, but not a lot of jiggle) So quite surprised my body fat is so high.

I'm now thinking I need to get my body fat down, but how would I do that without my BMI going lower? Am I just worrying over nothing?

Any help or reassurance would be much appreciated. :)

Hang on, you measured your body fat over the Internet? I think your method is flawed. What exactly did you do? Calipers? Scales? Water immersion method? Mri scan?

The first takes expertise and training,the ssecond is notoriously inaccurate as water can skew the results and is based on a formula for likely, not actual body fat and the water immersion method requires specialist equipment and, going out on a limb here but im guessing you havent bought an MRI scanner over the internet.

I am near to 100% sure your gp will be not in the slightest bit worried about your self diagnosis as its jot trustworty. Also that percentage of body fat will not affect your fertility.
Ultimately I think this is more about your eating disorder than anything else and THIS is what you must mention to youyr gpm its very relevant.

(Take it from someone who knows)

I was same age and weight and just 1in shorter when I fell pregnant last year. I'd be more concerned aboutgetting a blanced diet with sufficient protein (given yoy are vegetarian) than the exact body fat reading. As others have said unless done by MRI body fat estimates are pretty inaccurate.

N.b there are plenty of wholewheat , no added sugar cereals so mot sure you need to cut out. For protein pulses and quinoa are useful sources alongside nuts and seeds though sure you know that..

PinkyPlumet Sat 09-Jul-16 09:46:52
Are you eating a very fatty diet? How active are you? I would try eating high carb low(er) fat. So lots of rice, potatoes fruit etc and try to up your fitness levels

I am curious as to why you say that about high carb low fat. I think it is the other way round if the OP needs less fat more muscle.

You don’t need to worry about your percentage of body fat. The average for women is 30%. You sound like you’re active enough- I’m sure your doctor will say the same. Just relax - it sounds like you’re doing more than average to keep healthy.