Body Fat Percentage

Does anyone know the significance of body fat percentage? I measured my body fat percentage once at close to my highest weight and it was about 52% and my appearance was consistent with images they show representing various body fat percentages. Now having lost over 180 lbs and looking normal in size I measured my body fat percentage and it was 50%. I thought it would hve dropped much more than this? I know I'm not muscular, lean and fit. I am flabby for sure, but the loss of 180 lbd should have had some impact on my body fat percentage shouldn't it?

That issue aside, should I be worried about body fat percentage? Is there some health risk associated with a high body fat percentage if one's overall weigh is within the normal range? Just curious.

Thanks Challie

I saw there are several ways to measure body fat. Did you do the caliper type test? I wonder if you have loose skin that it

might throw off the measurement.

Pete

I used a bathroom scale but it seemed to be fairly accurate for the other people present.  I also used the tape measure method and I got a slightly better 40 something percent, but still not good.

I did an internet search and they referred to something called normal sized obesity or something like that, which is when you are not overweight but have a high body fat percentage.  Apparently there are health risks with this condition that are similar to regular obesity.  I'm not too worried though because they talk about high cholesterol and high blood pressure and I have low readings for both of those and they talk about blood sugar issues and mine has always been normal, so I hope all will be well.

Body fat is a more accurate representation of what is going on in your body make-up than BMI.  BMI does not take into consideration lean body mass or muscle structure.  At 340 lbs I was 58% body fat (not good and not healthy).  After getting down to 150 lbs, training my booty off (literally) I am not 14% body fat.  This is taking into consideration all of the fat I have lost and all of the muscle I have gained. 

A "normal"  body fat percentage for a woman would be about 22-25% body fat.  The most accurate way to get this would be a DEXA scan or even the hydro scale where they literally put you on a SHAMU type tarp and weight your lean body mass. 

I hope this helps!  Let me know if you have ANY questions at all!