astraboy

We got one of those devices that sends an electrical current through your feet and measures your percentage of bodyfat.
On the blurb sellotaped to the wall it said the "healthy range" for a 30 year old bloke (which is pretty much what I am now) is 17 - 24%
Mine came out at 11.5%
I suppose I should be pleased, but I'm concerned with the "Healthy range" part. Obviously if you have 25% + then you are tubby and that comes with all the inherent risks, but I suppose my question is what are the risks of not having enough body fat?
Any advice beyond "Eat cakes" would be appreicated.
Cheers,
astraboy.

King RA

don't eat pills.

Ian_S

Eat pies AND cakes

astraboy

Never touched them in my life dude.

astraboy.

King RA

Off to a good start then

mattvortex

The 17-24% that they quote is a very general average but to be honest anything over about 19% is on the lardy side for a bloke. The athletic range for male sportsman is 6-16% so you are in the top half of the athletic range- though its good if youve got muscle as well and arent just very thin! Six packs only start to become visable at under about 12% bodyfat.Ive also read that 11-12% is the optimum percentage for health and well-being so dont think you have much to worry about!

CooperS

Eat lard

brihoppy

its all relative isnt it...?!

astraboy

Nice one, cheers dude I dont have muscle and I am very thin, but thats just the way I am, I was just worried about health implications of being under the "healthy" range.
So you say a 6 pack is visible under 12% eh? always wanted one of those....
*does sit ups*
astraboy.

flat4_ire

bull**** man, those machines are incorrect, the only way to tell is the proper measurments tongs which take various points on ur body and measure in mm..being in a gym for many years and a 5day a week man i know the story and the false sense these scales give people(especially women) gives you, i know guys who are 14st of pure **** and have body fat of 16 to 18, and i know other guys who are 18st and look good and have 19-21%, get me? dont let this 11
% fool u dude

olliecampbell

iTrader: (3)

So without these gizmos etc is there an easy way for a pleb like me to measure mine?

ozzy

Not really; depends if you want an accurate reading or not. If so, ask your doc to give you a caliper test or if you don't want to waste their time ask them who they'd recommend (or ask down a local gym).

The electronic scales are hit 'n miss in terms of accuracy.

It also depends what you want out of it. You can see if you're fat or chubby just by looking in the mirror. You may have a BF% of 12 yet carry it all around your stomach and have no 6-pack.

If you want a 6-pack, do some sit-ups but the key is diet (and good/lucky genetics).

Also, BF % doesn't distinguish between a meat head or a long streak of p!sh Remember its just a indication of all-over body fat.

Regacy

I've played with these a few times and they seem to be hugely influenced by how well hydrated you are at the time of test.
I'm a reasonably proficient athlete and my body fat is in single figures (professional measure) but I can get much higher readings out of electronic measures.
Others are right, it's about how you perform, how you feel and how you look far more than what the figure on the scale says.
R

lucylastic

If you can pinch more than an inch, you're fat I think

suprabeast

*does pinch test*

dammit im fat !

lucylastic

Maybe I got it wrong - perhaps it's a foot, not an inch - does that help?