body fat percentage question

[PurplePatricia]

I posted this is the weight loss section too... okay, I just joined and am hoping someone can help me with a concern I have... I'm 48 y/o and have been living with rheumatoid arthritis since I was 15... I have a hip replacement and an shoulder replacement... a few months ago I joined Curves to tone up and possibly gain some mobility and range of motion... every month they weigh and measure you and I am concerned with my body fat percentage... I am 5'8" and about 150 lbs but my body fat percentage is around 36% to 37%... that would mean that over 50 lbs of my weight is fat??? this seems high to me as I do not have alot of visible fat...

I can't seem to find any information as to whether the metal joins is affecting my body fat percentage reading ... they use a hand held device and from what research I have been able to do, this measures fat percentage by how much does not contain water such as muscle... if anyone has any information I would greatly appreciate it

thanks,
Pat

[kira]

If they are measuring by electrical resistence which most scales that measure body fat use then that's not the most accurate. How much water you've had to drink recently, how much exercise you've done, and other things can throw this reading off. I usually back it up by taking actual measurements once a month to double check the electrical method and it's usually off 3-5% for me. If you go search online for measuring body fat you'll find a few different systems for measuring different parts of your body and comparing the measurements to get a more accurate result.

[WildChild]

Recent research and current health thinking is pulling away from the obssession with body fat percentages. Healthy people need some fat, healthy women need more of it than a healthy man. Fat in some areas is more unhealthy than in other areas and too little is unhealthy. Really it's all about finding a healthy balance for you. Belly fat, which apparently indicates quite a bit of fat around the organs, is of the most concern.

As I understand it, the problem with trying to use a formula to figure it out is that they really don't accomodate different body types. A healthy woman with plenty of lean muscle will weigh more than thin woman with who doesn't work out, both may be the same size. You have to look at your body and your health as whole and balanced picture. Are you active? Do you have good endurance? Heartrate? Do you stretch and work on your balance reflexes(those start to go in our 30s)? Do some weight and resistance work to increase bone density to reduce the risk of fractures as well as tone and strengthen?

[OhThereYouAre]

If they are using a hand held device, its probably not very accurate.

The most accurate way to measure body fat is through an electrostatic test, which I'm sure your local "Curves" isn't able to conduct.

I'm sure some of the metal in your body can throw off the measurement, but not by much. The fact of it is, hand held devices and skin pinch tests aren't very good.

As a woman, you're gonna want to be in the low 20's as far as body fat percentage. As you age, though, the number obviously will go up and its tougher to stay there.

Have they explained to you cardiovascular activity and healthier eating habits to augment you weight training?

[stroutman81]

Recent research and current health thinking is pulling away from the obssession with body fat percentages.

Would you mind posting the research you're looking at specifically, please?

Healthy people need some fat, healthy women need more of it than a healthy man.

It's true that women will naturally carry higher fat than men. It's also true that we, as humans, have a baseline level of fat that is considered essential for live and health.

That said, this doesn't negate the fact that large amounts of fat above this baseline level of essential fat is healthy or productive.

50 lbs of fat on the OP's frame is well above the essential fat base.

As I understand it, the problem with trying to use a formula to figure it out is that they really don't accomodate different body types. A healthy woman with plenty of lean muscle will weigh more than thin woman with who doesn't work out, both may be the same size.

Actually, testing body fat with reasonably accurate means is how you normalize populations. These tests do, in fact, take into account fat mass vs. fat free mass... that's the entire point of them.

[PurplePatricia]

I'm still confused... and I guess I am trying to figure out how or why my body fat percentage is so high... I do realize that it is normal for a woman to have about 20% body fat... but to be sitting at 37% just seems to be a bit too high considering most of the information I have found indicates that 40% or higher is considered obese... something has to be a bit out of whack whe my entire adult life I've told I am too skinny despite the fact that I have a Rheumatologist warning me that excess weight on any weight bearing joints is not good... also I have always closely monitored my fat intake as I also have Crohn's disease and greasy or spicey foods have been triggers for flare-ups...

maybe I should not be so concerned with numbers and just concentrate on living a healthy lifestyle

[stroutman81]

Do you resistance train?

Just b/c you're not huge doesn't mean you're not overly fat. People who aren't very large but have a high body fat percentage means they aren't carrying a lot of muscle.

Resistance training can make marked improvements in this.

Also, dietary fat doesn't make you fat.

[OhThereYouAre]

I'm still confused... and I guess I am trying to figure out how or why my body fat percentage is so high... I do realize that it is normal for a woman to have about 20% body fat... but to be sitting at 37% just seems to be a bit too high considering most of the information I have found indicates that 40% or higher is considered obese... something has to be a bit out of whack whe my entire adult life I've told I am too skinny

maybe I should not be so concerned with numbers and just concentrate on living a healthy lifestyle

Just because you don't look large doesn't mean that you aren't carrying a lot of fat. Have you ever heard the term "skinny fat".

Yes - Numbers are a starting point, but they are not the end all. I've assisted a good deal of women in their quest for healthy body compositions and most of them seem fixated on the scale. DON'T be. Muscle tissue is more dense and therefore weighs more than fat - so it is very possible to gain weight while looking better in the mirror.

While it's a starting point, the best way to gauge your progress is how you feel, and how your clothes fit.

Good luck.