help menu

Join us on the Community Forums!

  • Community Guidelines

    The Fitbit Community is a gathering place for real people who wish to exchange ideas, solutions, tips, techniques, and insight about the Fitbit products and services they love. By joining our Community, you agree to uphold these guidelines, so please take a moment to look them over.

  • Learn the Basics

    Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page for information on Community features, and tips to make the most of your time here.

  • Join the Community!

    Join an existing conversation, or start a new thread to ask your question. Creating your account is completely free, and takes about a minute.

Not finding your answer on the Community Forums?

Cancel
Turn on suggestions
Auto-suggest helps you quickly narrow down your search results by suggesting possible matches as you type.
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Normal BMI but high Body Fat %

‎06-08-2015 18:15

‎06-08-2015 18:15

I was wondering if anyone else had this problem - normal BMI but high body fat %. I recently got the Fitbit Charge HR and Aria scale. I am 5'9", 151 lbs, 22.4% BMI, all of which fall into the "normal" category in most charts I've read. My body fat % though, according to the Aria scale is 32.2% which is on the high side. Three weeks ago, I weighed 157 lbs and my body fat % was at 35%, which is considered overweight. I measured my wrist, and according to the charts I am small-boned (although I never really thought I was). What does this all mean? To me it sounds like I should be on the low-end of my weight range (129-169 lbs), but I am not sure. Help!

Best Answer
0 Votes
1 REPLY 1

‎06-08-2015 20:18

‎06-08-2015 20:18

First of all: It's just numbers

 

Second - and I dont want to say Aria is a bad scale - ALL body fat scale measurements are based on a tiny little electric wave sent through your body. Since muscle and fat cells lead this electric wave differently the scale can "measure" your body fat percentage. 

 

Here comes the BUT: 

 

depending how much water you have had in the last days and how well you are hydrated these numbers can vary. So I would try not to let numbers rule your life(style).

 

You are tall, I assume you are a woman (body fat % is always higher for women) With 151 lbs you are in a very healthy range and neither over, nor underweight. 

 

Remember: BMI is also just a number and formula. It doesnt apply to every person because we are not all the same. Someone who is very muscular for example or athletic might weigh more, but is still healthy! If you used the BMI on the NFL Teams, half of them would come out as "obese". 😉

 

Why dont you turn off those numbers for a day and think about how you feel?

Are you feeling well, energized, love your new lifestyle, enjoy being active?

Could you eat any less and still be happy (truly happy!), could you exercise any more and truly enjoy it?

If the answer to both of these questions is no, then you have reached your best weight! 

 

Maybe your best weight is just 3-4 lbs away and that's when you decide - I am happy this way. 

 

I love yoga, pilates, knitting, my fitbit and walking my dog! +++ Started with 100 lbs to lose - 60% there - reclaiming my life and health!
Best Answer
0 Votes