Ideal Body Fat Range

[killerbee]

Yesterday I had my "evaluation" at the gym and the trainer said that my Body Fat was roughly 28%. To me, this sounds like a lot, but she said that the best range for a woman is between 24 and 28%. She even told me that people like Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton may seem rail thin, but they probably are over 30% body fat.

Does this sound accurate? I do know that the ideal ranges for men and women differ due to the way fat is deposited within the body.

Thank you.......

[minime]

Hi killerbee

Firstly, how did she test your bodyfat? Most methods are quite inaccurate. But even if its inaccurate, u can use the figure to measure your progress, so long as you use this method at a consistent time, say every week or two at the same time of day or whatever.

Secondly, I dont think you can say any bf figure is 'ideal' i believe it depends totally on personal goals and preferences. I think 24-28% is probably in the healthy range for a woman. Some say 20-25%, some 18-25.. really its up to you once u are not severly malnourished or overweight the rest is down to how YOU want to look

oh and thirdly - yes there is such a thing as a 'skinny fat person' - that is someone who is thin but still with a high bodyfat. I know people like this (thin but soft) However, I dont think paris or nicole ritchie have BF%s of 30% as i have seen pics of both of them in bikinis, and both look to have muscle definition so Im guessing despite their thinness they do work out with weights.

[CF-OC_gal]

The normal range is going to vary depending on the test method and the accuracy of the technician doing it. I was told by the fitness/research center where I had mine done that most affordable BF tests and tools are have a margin of error of 5% or more even with consistency. The accurate tests are expensive an not accessible for most people. The best way to track your progress is to pick a method and see whether you are gaining losing or maintaining and not worry about the actual number.

The comment on celebrity BF% is a dumb one. First of all there is so much photo manipulation going on out there to make sensationalism, who the heck knows what these ladies really look like! Why does Oprah look "plastic" on her magazine covers but totally larger than life on TV? Then there are the Renee Zellwigger types who can gain or lose depending on the role they are in.

Lastly, we all store bodyfat differently. In my 20's and 30's I was able to easily maintain a bodyfat below 20% as a norm whether I exercised or not. Now 20-23% is my norm whether I exercise or not. This would be using calipers for measuring it. With impedence I am up around 30% as a measurement.

[Lady C]

Originally Posted by killerbee

She even told me that people like Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton may seem rail thin, but they probably are over 30% body fat.

Does this sound accurate?

Yes!! They starve themselves to death and usually only do some form of cardio. No strength training. Therefore, no muscle mass. This is a skinny, fat person. I measured a co-worker that was maybe 100 lbs, (5' 6" tall, and quite soft to the touch) and it read 28% bodyfat.

Do you think that kind of body looks great? Or would you rather have one that looks hard and still be sensual? I prefer the later, therefore, I lift!

[lyra]

Ok, I just want to point out that there is no way that paris and richie are that high in body fat. I'm not saying that there aren't girls out there that are thin but not toned and therefore may have body fat in the 20's but your trainer's example is an exaggeration. One that I think would end up confusing you in the end.

In fact, I read somewhere (I can't remember where) that many celebrities/actresses have body fat in the 15% range. Considering what is considered healthy and normal for a female (that is not athletic mind you) this is a very low standard. I mean, compare a tennis player to one of those rail thin actresses. Both may have the same low body fat but one is far more toned and healthy than the other.

I hope my point was somewhat clear

~Nicole

[killerbee]

The trainer pinched the front and back part of my waist and the front and back section of my upper arm. (4 readings). She said that these places are where women commonly have the most body fat. She grabbed my skin and measured it with this pincher looking thing (like you would pick up a hot dog). Divided the total of the measurements by 4 and came up with 32%. She then said that more realistically, it would be about 28% because my other areas (she said that normally there are 7 in total for an accurate test) would round it down to 28%. My legs are pretty lean and so is the area by my armpit. She has 28% down on my chart so that is the # that I will work with.
Thank you for your help......

[Maxgain]

Originally Posted by Lady C

Yes!! They starve themselves to death and usually only do some form of cardio. No strength training. Therefore, no muscle mass. This is a skinny, fat person. I measured a co-worker that was maybe 100 lbs, (5' 6" tall, and quite soft to the touch) and it read 28% bodyfat.

That is definatly true.
However like many i have seen as much of Paris as one can see and she deinatly has a low bodyfat.
The ideals quoted are women 20-30% bf which varies again according to age. I believe you shouls be aiming for under 25 but everyone is different

[tekmoney]

Originally Posted by killerbee

To me, this sounds like a lot, but she said that the best range for a woman is between 24 and 28%. She even told me that people like Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton may seem rail thin, but they probably are over 30% body fat.

Does this sound accurate? I do know that the ideal ranges for men and women differ due to the way fat is deposited within the body.

Thank you.......

This trainer sounds like the most ignorant woman to ever get hired at a gym. How does someone who is wire thin end up at 30% BF? I'm around 26-28% BF myself and that just boggles my mind for her to say something like that. Yes women can have more body fat, i would say on average its no more than 4-8% more than a mans.