High Body Fat Percentage but Small Size...why?

Question

I'm 5'5 1/2, i wear a size 4 to size 6...but my body fat percentage is 27%!! reccommmended amount is said to be 18-22%
my friend is around the same height and she's a size 8-10, but her body fat is 20%, that's a huge difference!
i mean it's so weird...i look 'slimmer' and smaller in size, but i'm actually fatter than she is, she does look more toned than i do even though she is thicker, while i am 'skiny flabby', with protruding hip and collar bones but bits of flab here and there....and no, she's not a fitness freak who exercises constantly, and neither am i.

why is this? if i do get down to 20% body fat am i gonna be just a bag of bones, considering i'm already a size 4-6 at 27%? i don't want to get muscular or anything, but i would like to tone up and get my BF% down.

the most detailed explanation gets 10 points...i really would like to understand why this is so....maybe genetics?

Answer 1

I dont claim to be an expert but the reasoning I see is that thought you are smaller, more % of your body is fat, rather than muscle.

So if you just dieted, you'd lose weight and be a bag of bones, yes. But you have to work out and tone your body. And toning doesn't automatically mean you'll be a huge walking mass of muscle, like the Ms. Olympia pagents. There are certain exercises that can target certain parts of your body, toning your body fr the exact look that you want.

A dip-shrug for example can lift your bust and make the breasts appear rounder and firmer, and a glute machine will shape your rear, lifting and shaping your buttocks.

So yeah it's possible to be 'skinny' and still have a high percentage of 'fat' on you. But no worries. Just add a little strength training into your daily life and all will be well. :)

Answer 2

It's not genetics, it's diet an exercise. I mean, yes, some people have higher metabolisms and the sort, but the truth of the matter is that if she's more toned, she's either eating healthier than you are, less than you are, and/or exercising more than you are.

Muscle weighs more than fat, so you would probably gain weight if you toned up-- not that it's a problem at all, but just informing you on that side of things. And why is it that girls are always worried about being overly muscular? Your bodies are made not to retain that much muscle, unless you REALLY work it (in comparison to a guy's body, I mean). If you run/cycle, and do weights, you will get toned but not huge.

You might also want to drink more water and cut back on some unhealthy foods. By the bye, best way to lose fat is running-- so try to do that three times a week, thirty minutes at minimum.

Answer 3

There's also other factors like muscle and bones. She probably has more muscle or bigger bones than you. I wear the same size as my cousin but my bf% is almost half of hers. I just have bigger bones and a lot more muscle.
A body fat percentage above the recommended amount can cause health problems later in life.
You need to exercise and lower your BF percentage. If your afraid of looking muscular, muscular meaning like a man's body (a body like those wrestlers), it won't happen unless you take steroids or certain hormones. The worst that is going to happen is a 6 pack and it won't even show that much.

Answer 4

Ummm I doubt its genetics it maybe have to do something with your diet. It's not that fact that she eats less (because that would actually make your body fat higher if you starve yourself), she might be eating healthier. You know like eating fruits and yogurt instead of candy and cookies. She also may just be a naturally bigger person and have a larger bone structure. Body fat % is a better indication of health than size and weight.