FitSugar

Measure Up: BMI vs. Body Fat Percentage

FitSugar — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 05:50:59 PDT

BMI and body fat percentage are weight-loss terms thrown around with little explanation, so if you're confused about what they mean or which you should pay more attention to, you're not alone. Here's a brief primer to help.

BMI stands for Body Mass Index. It's a simple measure of the weight of a person scaled according to their height. You can use Fit's Calculator to determine your BMI, or follow these steps:

Multiply your weight in pounds by 703.
Divide that answer by your height in inches.
Divide that answer by your height in inches again.

A healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9.

Body fat percentage is the weight of a person's fat divided by the person's weight. It lets you see how much of your body is made up of fat, and how much is bone, muscle, blood, and organs. There are several ways to calculate your percentage. Your skin folds can be gently pinched with calipers, some high-tech scales can measure body fat, and there's also underwater weighing. Many people get their body fat percentage measured if they are into sports or trying to measure their progress while losing weight. Fit women should have 21 to 24 percent body fat. Female athletes have between 14 and 20 percent.

To find out which one you should be concerned with

read more. Body fat percentage is a much more accurate measurement in determining if you are healthy. BMI doesn't take into consideration how much of your weight is muscle and bone and how much of it is fat. So that means a person can have a healthy BMI, but still carry weight in their belly, which can increase their risk for heart disease. So if you're trying to lose weight, or just wondering if your current weight is healthy, it's worth seeing someone to have your body fat percentage measured.

BMI Has Gone Awry

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:30:00 PDT

There are many ways to quantify a body. We weigh them. We measure their height and circumference. We determine the body fat composition. We use the Body Mass Index, aka BMI and this generic formula has been catching some flack lately.

This measurement is an unfortunately simplistic approach to measuring health. BMI is a mathematical formula that scales a person's weight to their height. The index also includes a range for optimal weights. The numbers below this range are considered underweight and the figures above the optimal range are considered overweight and obese. You might type in your stats, learn your BMI, and be appalled at your number.

If this has happened to you, you are not alone. Jezebel feels the same way and found a photo collection of women to help us all understand visually why BMI has gone awry. Kate Harding has put together a photo collection of women (you need to check it out!). Their stats are listed: weight, height and BMI. You will be surprised by the women that are considered overweight and obese. So take heart if you feel at odds with your BMI, there are other women out there who look like you and me!

Which is Better: BMI or Body Fat Percentage?

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 07:30:00 PST

Many people are confused when it comes to looking at their Body Mass Index (BMI) versus their body fat percentage, since they do not always agree. So which should you go by?

First of all, body fat percentage is an estimate of the fraction of the total body mass that is fat mass, as opposed to lean body mass (muscle, bone, organ tissue, blood, and everything else that makes you work). This index is often used as a means to monitor progress during a diet or as a measure of physical fitness for certain sports. BMI is just a simple measure of the weight of a person scaled according to height.

That being said, body fat percentage is a much more accurate way to measure excess body weight than BMI since it differentiates between the weight of muscle and fat, while BMI just lumps it all into one figure.

So why are there so many BMI calculators on the internet? This is simply because measuring body fat percentage requires a few things: Special equipment, the physical presence of the person wishing to have their fat evaluated and the physical presence of someone who knows how to work the equipment. BMI is just a loose guideline for anyone curious about where they sit, but it is not a one size fits all answer. Curious about your body fat percentage? Then talk to a fitness professional at your gym or even your doctor. Curious about your BMI? Then check out [sorry, shameless plug] the Fit Calculator.

To read what the body fat percentages mean,

Description	Women	Men
Essential fat	10-13%	2-5%
Athletes	14–20%	6–13%
Fitness	21–24%	14–17%
Acceptable	25–31%	18–25%
Obese	32%+	25%+

FIT Calculator: BMI

FitSugar — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 16:30:00 PST

Ever heard of BMI? No not the music organization. BMI stands for Body Mass Index and it is a simple measurement of body fat based on height and weight.

Basically it’s a quick way to check in on your health and body in terms of weight. Just want to remind you that a healthy attitude about your body is just as important as physical fitness. I don't want to cause any unhealthy anxiety about having the perfect body. This is simply a tool.

I also want to let you know that there are limitations to the index. It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build since muscle weighs more than fat. Plus, it can underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle mass.

So check out Fit's Calculator to find out your BMI. That's not all! With the new SugarStats you can also find your Target Heart Rate, see if you're drinking enough water and find out how many calories you can eat to maintain your current weight.

Step Off the Scale! There Are Better Ways to Gauge Your Weight

Leta Shy — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:49:47 PST

Using the scale has its place, especially if you are carefully tracking your weight-loss progress. But spending too much time focusing on a number can discourage you when you think you've dropped weight after a rigorous diet and exercise plan only to find that you haven't lost as much as you thought you have (which can happen for several reasons, usually because you are gaining muscle instead). If you dread stepping on the scale, here are three ways to gauge your weight instead.

Your clothes: One of the best ways to figure out if your diet and exercise plan is working? Nix the scale for your favorite pair of jeans. The fit of your favorite clothes can be more accurate than knowing how many pounds you are.

Your energy level: Chances are, if you're eating healthy, drinking water, and exercising, you'll be feeling the effects - you'll have more energy, sleep better, and be less lethargic overall. Feeling healthy is the first step in looking your best, so don't discount the inside-out effects of your new lifestyle, even if weight loss is your main goal.

Your body fat percentage: Your body's muscle-fat ratio can make the scale tip up even when you are feeling svelte. So be sure to keep your fat percentage in mind when it's time to step on the scale. That means investing in a model that includes an accurate fat percentage measurement so you can track your progress accurately. Or get your body fat percentage measured professionally with one of these tests. And don't always rely on your body mass index (BMI) to gauge whether or not you're in a healthy weight range; it's not always the most accurate measurement. Read more about the difference between BMI and body fat percentage here.

How do you measure your weight-loss progress when you're not on the scale?

6 Little Instant Health Boosts

Prevention — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:42:05 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar!

Minor moves that offer major benefits for your mind and body
By Alyssa Shaffer, Prevention

Brush and Floss
Health boost: Cut risk of head and neck cancer by 400 Percent

Take good care of your smile and you'll have more than just white teeth to show for it. New research from Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY, shows that people with the chronic gum disease periodontitis have a fourfold risk of developing a type of head or neck cancer (which makes up about 5 percent of all malignancies in the United States), especially in the mouth and throat. The risk was increased even among patients who never used tobacco. Gum disease occurs when the bacteria that live in plaque infect the gums, so brush and floss regularly to prevent plaque buildup.

16 Amazingly Easy Ways to Dramatically Improve Well-being

Hide Your TV Remote
Health boost: Whittle 2 inches from your belly

When switching TV stations, put down the remote, get up, and do it manually. An Australian study found that people who did the greatest amount of light activity during otherwise sedentary behavior, such as watching TV, had 16 percent smaller waist circumferences than those who were inclined to stay put. Even the simple act of getting up and walking around for a minute or so was enough to make a difference, regardless of whether they had a regular workout schedule.

They also had lower body mass indexes and triglyceride and glucose levels, all of which are associated with a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome. More ways to break up an otherwise inactive day: Stand up every time the phone rings at your desk; take the long way back to your desk after a bathroom break; do some stretches before reading a new e-mail.

Super Secrets For a Trim Tummy

Doodle During Work Meetings
Health boost: Improve memory by 29 Percent

People who doodled while listening to a recorded message had nearly one-third better recall of the details than those who didn't draw, according to a study published in the journal Applied Cognitive Psychology. "Doodling acts as a buffer against daydreaming," explains researcher Jackie Andrade, PhD, a professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Plymouth in England. "It provides just enough distraction to stop you from drifting off, but you can still focus on what is being said."

Find more ways to boost your health after the break.

What Your Birthday Month Tells You About the Career You're Born For

Emily Co — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 03:05:03 PDT

Apparently, there is statistical evidence that shows you have a higher chance of ending up in certain types of jobs depending on your birth month, a study by the Office for National Statistics in the UK finds. The month you're born in can have some effect on life outcomes. The reason for that isn't due to horoscopes, but seasonal interferences, according to Oxford neuroscientist Russell Foster.

“It seems absurd the month in which you are born can affect life chances, but how long you live, how tall you are, how well you do at school, your body mass index as an adult, your morning-versus-evening preference and how likely you are to develop a range of diseases are all correlated to some extent with the time of year in which you emerge from the womb,” Foster says.

Here are some of the characteristics or careers of people born in different months:

January: Debt collectors and general practitioners
February: Artists and traffic wardens.
March: Pilots and musicians.
April: Dictators.
May: Politicians.
June: CEOs and Nobel prize winners.
July: Bricklayers, train drivers, and artists.
August: Bricklayers and US presidents.
September: Athletes and physicists.
October: Centenarians or people who live really long lives.
November: Serial killers and schizophrenics.
December: Dentists and messiahs.

As a September baby, the list isn't very accurate because the only athletic ability I seem to have is working out my mouth muscles during meals. Do these examples ring true for you?

New Studies Say You Can Be "Healthy Obese"

Leta Shy — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:33:26 PDT

New studies show that weight shouldn't be the only factor when determining whether or not someone is unhealthy. In fact, the studies show, certain obese people may actually be healthy.

The first study surveyed 8,000 Americans and found that not all those who qualified as obese - over 30 on the BMI scale - had health problems. It found that 20 percent of obese participants were what one of the study researchers described as "pretty healthy despite being large."

Your BMI, or body mass index, is determined by calculating your weight relative to your height. But many experts agree that a BMI number doesn't always correlate to how healthy you are.

Read on for more about the new findings after the break.

Weight Impacts Sex Lives of Obese Women More Than Men

Annie Scudder — Tue, 03 May 2011 15:00:04 PDT

Dating site OkCupid created some shiny graphs last month based on its users' profiles and found that women who enjoy exercising have an easier time achieving orgasm. Now a study appearing in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy provides scientific evidence linking fitness with good sex. The study out of Duke University found obese women experience lower sexual satisfaction and a lower sexual quality of life overall.

Using a questionnaire to measure sexual interest, arousal, masturbation, and more, researchers found obesity impacts a woman's sexual satisfaction more than a man's, although both obese men and women have lower sexual quality of life over all. Obese women had lower sexual satisfaction scores than both cancer survivors and the general population, while obese men's satisfaction fell above cancer survivors and below the general population.

In fact, another study conducted last year found some extra weight can be a sexual advantage for men. It concluded the higher a man's body mass index, the longer he lasts in bed. Maybe size does matter.

Why You Feel Embarrassed at the Gym (and Why You Shouldn't)

Self — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 04:00:15 PST

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from Self here on FitSugar!

Workout-related humiliation is common: After all, you're doing things that require coordination and bum-in-the-air positions in a room full of strangers clad in sweaty spandex. Not only does this scenario lead to the obvious physical mishaps (falling in Zumba class, passing gas during downward dog, naked encounters in the locker room, etc.), it can also make you feel, well, awkward.

Here are 4 common gym insecurities, and why you should ditch them ASAP:

You think: "Ugh, everyone is in better shape than I am!"
Snap out of it: First of all, don't assume that just because someone weighs less than you that they are in better shape than you are. Being skinny isn't necessarily a sign of being fit - being strong is. To get an actual accurate reading on your body composition (rather than just comparing yourself to others), exercise physiologist Fabio Comana, spokesman for the American Council on Exercise, recommends checking your waist-to-hip ratio and your Body Mass Index (here's an online calculator).

And to get yourself in a more self-accepting state of mind pronto, position your body in a confident way: Shoulders back and down, head up, abs braced (like someone is about to sock you) and glutes engaged. Exude confidence and everyone will be jealous of you!

You think: "I have no idea what I'm doing."
Snap out of it: This might be true, but don't assume that everyone else does. They may look like they're pros, but chances are, they're just going through the motions (and not necessarily in an effective way) because they are too proud to ask for help. One-up them by seeking out the assistance of a trainer. You don't even need to buy an expensive lesson, just show up at the gym with a workout in hand (click here to download SELF's workout app), and ask one of the trainers roaming the floor if your form looks OK. Do this a few times a week and people will be asking you for help before you know it.

Two more solutions to your gym woes when you keep reading.