Good BMI but poor Body Fat Percentage

FBaby

For any fitness expert who might be lurking here, could I ask if you would find it odd for someone in her early 40s who has a BMI of 21, who works in the gym (zumba, treadmill, tennis, some weights), eats seemingly healthily (no red meat, no fast food or high fat dishes, no cheese), would have a body fat percentage of 29%?

I'm a bit puzzled as I've lost 8 pounds in 8 months, yet my fat content not only hasn't gone down but seem to have gone up by 1%!! I understand that 29% for a woman is not that far off the obese ratio. I'm only 8 stones. What's going on? You can tell me the machine must have been defective (used of those who assess body fat content from holding a sensor with hands).

heartbreak_star

I'd go with carbs being the issue - they cause insulin reactions that can lead to fat being stored

Try adding some fat and cutting some carbs.

Good luck

HBS x

Lizling

FBaby wrote: »

You can tell me the machine must have been defective (used of those who assess body fat content from holding a sensor with hands).

It's very likely that the machine wasn't accurate. The results from those things varies according to how hydrated you are. Calipers are supposed to be a bit more accurate so you could get measured with them to check the results.

And then go and eat some cheese

FBaby

Thank you for your responses. I don't think the issue is with carborhydrates as I eat no potatoes or rice, pasta only once a week at most, and have cut down bread totally. However, the mention of insulin had made me think that my issue might be my intake of sugar that is probably a bit high.

Saying that, if I were to cut down so that my fat percentage goes down, I can only assume my weight would go down too and I don't want to lose much more, I'm now down a size 8. I can't build much more muscles, I am as muscular as I ever been.

So I will take that the machine wasn't accurate and will go and eat more cheese

pink_princess

Why not try a few other monitors, that should give you a clearer picture.

UKTigerlily

30 BMI would be obese, not if you got to 30% body fat (afaik) I think female body fat should be around 30% but not sure of the exact %

alleycat`

Average body fat % for a female is about 26 to 30%.
You aren't out of the ordinary in that regard if you are average.

If you are very fit, I'd suspect the machine is wrong or your diet isn't as wholesome as suggested?

I suspect in reality you might not be as fit as you think, which isn't meant to sound as harsh as it probably reads.