But really body fat measurement what gives?
Here is some 411 on body fat....
What is Body Fat
Body fat takes on two forms. First is the essential fat. This is the fat and oils within the body that keep it functioning properly. Many of the organs are protected by a layer of this fat. The joints are lubricated by it and some is used in the body’s hormonal and messenger systems. The amount of essential fat varies between males and females, with females having more to support reproduction and other hormonal differences. The essential fat in males makes up 2-5% of total body composition and in females it is in the 10 to 13% range.
The second form is stored fat. This is the energy stores that are used in times of extreme starvation or prolonged exercise. This is also the muscle covering fat that most people fight with. Some of this fat is stored in cushioning positions and is helpful, but a large percentage is not healthy. Body fat percentages, as expressed in total percentage, is a total of both essential and stored fats. The recommended total body fat percentage for the average person is 20-25% for women and around 8-14% for men. Obesity is considered above 30% in women and above 25% in men.
So now we have a definition...here are the ways of measuring....I have been measured by 3 of these methods in the last week. I'll stick to the lowest number one thank you very much!
Body Fat Measurement By BMI (my current BMI 45.5)
There are many ways to measure body fat ranging from the simple, rather inaccurate body mass index to the more complex, expensive, but highly accurate, Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. The body mass index (BMI) is not a true measure of body fat because it simply uses height and weight as variables. BMI is the least accurate for strength athletes and bodybuilders due to their large mass relative to their height. Similar to the BMI test, but slightly more athlete friendly, are the circumferential tests. Measurements are taken of various body circumferences and then they are put into a formula to reach a desired number. Again, these have a very low accuracy rating.
Body Fat Measurement By Electrical Impedance (my current electrical impedance # is 47% - seriously....this has got to be wrong! I work my buns off at the gym and have loads of muscle, I can't be close to 50% fat)
Impedance testing is another, more accurate, method. Electrical impedance is the lesser expensive of the two methods. It involves a low charge electrical impulse being passed through the body. The theory behind this test is that the electricity passes easier through the lean tissue. The higher the impedance, the higher the body fat percentage. A more expensive, and more accurate method of impedance testing involves the use of an infrared beam. The concept is the same but the infrared light is more accurate than the electrical impulse.
Body Fat Measurement By Skin Fold (my current body fat by skin fold is 35% - so yeah! this is more like it! I'll take this number thank you!)
Another convenient and inexpensive is the skin fold measurement. This method requires using calipers to measure folds of fat taken at various sites on the body. Some of the common sites include the triceps, hips, stomach and thigh. This method can be done very easily, and it can be done at home.
Seriously there are a few other methods...my trainer seems to think that the skin fold method is the more accurate, I was pinched all over and my goal is to reduce this number. The tough part is that BMI is what most insurance companies use to determine if you are healthy or not, it's hard when they don't take into account anything else. I know women out there who weigh 140lbs but according to the skin fold method they have over 40% body fat, that means that they have have very little muscle mass and are probably a lot less fit than I am.....so for now, I guess I'll continue at the gym, and working on my weight and overall health....
Friday is 8 weeks...so pictures to come!!!!!
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