Low Body Fat

I read that having a low body fat can be harmful. How do I check this. And what sort of effects could it have on my body?

don't know how to calculate. i think you can just google it.

 too low % will screw up your hormones, cause ammenhorea, cause joint problems, and lots of other bad stuff.

I think the only way you can check your body fat (numerically) is with a scale that has a body fat % calculator. I have one on my scale at home and it works  (I think) by sending an electric pulse through your body from the metal sensors on the scale, and then calculating your fat % according to your height, age and weight.

If you go to a gym they may have a scale that can measure body fat (mine does), and it works the same way.

 As for some long term effects, I heard that too little fat can lead to MS (because your nerves are coated with myelin, which is fat...) and I'm sure there are lots others.

well, bf% below 23 in women means u get no period...

Original Post by ashalee_88:

I read that having a low body fat can be harmful. How do I check this. And what sort of effects could it have on my body?

 The most accurate way is to be submerged in a dunk tank and measure the amount of water displacement. Calipers are the most effective practical measure.

Women with a low body fat percentage often stop menstruating. If you get it low enough, you could ultimately die. 

I measured myself and used an online one, it said 14%. But didn't give an explanation as to what that meant exactly.

Original Post by ashalee_88:

I measured myself and used an online one, it said 14%. But didn't give an explanation as to what that meant exactly.

 Online calculators are extremely unreliable. That being said, if you really are at 14%, that's just too low for a woman to maintain.

 So what do I do? I've never had a lot of body fat to begin with, but now I'm aware of it coz someone made a comment the other night. coz theyd never seen me in a dress (default picture)

Original Post by ashalee_88:

 So what do I do? I've never had a lot of body fat to begin with, but now I'm aware of it coz someone made a comment the other night. coz theyd never seen me in a dress (default picture)

You eat more. You eat enough to gain weight. You gain weight. 

I looked at your pic...I have to agree with the person who made that comment. 

Can i go to the doctors or something to get it checked? Would that be best?

Original Post by popthebubbles:

well, bf% below 23 in women means u get no period...

I don't think that's accurate. My BF is about 20, and I still get my period.

If you still get your period, then you're body fat is probably OK. Have you been feeling sick lately? If not, then you probably have nothing to worry about!

No, I haven't felt sick or lost my period. I've never not had it.

You sound healthy! There's not absolute low for female body fat, it's just a general idea. I know people will say you look very thin, but some people are just built differently than others. Don't worry about it as long as you're not sickly or missing your periods =)

Original Post by tadpole185:

You sound healthy! There's not absolute low for female body fat, it's just a general idea. I know people will say you look very thin, but some people are just built differently than others. Don't worry about it as long as you're not sickly or missing your periods =)

 There actually is an absolute low (12% in women, 3% in men).

Original Post by dm84:

Original Post by tadpole185:

You sound healthy! There's not absolute low for female body fat, it's just a general idea. I know people will say you look very thin, but some people are just built differently than others. Don't worry about it as long as you're not sickly or missing your periods =)

There actually is an absolute low (12% in women, 3% in men).

Everyone is a little different. Certain races need different amounts of body fat, too. There are few "absolutes" that can apply to everyone, and this is not one of them.

Original Post by tadpole185:

Original Post by dm84:

Original Post by tadpole185:

You sound healthy! There's not absolute low for female body fat, it's just a general idea. I know people will say you look very thin, but some people are just built differently than others. Don't worry about it as long as you're not sickly or missing your periods =)

There actually is an absolute low (12% in women, 3% in men).

Everyone is a little different. Certain races need different amounts of body fat, too. There are few "absolutes" that can apply to everyone, and this is not one of them.

You won't find a medical professional encouraging anyone to get that low. Even professional bodybuilders rarely go lower than the numbers I gave, and can't maintain such a low body fat percentage for more than a few hours or days.

Original Post by dm84:

Original Post by tadpole185:

Original Post by dm84:

Original Post by tadpole185:

You sound healthy! There's not absolute low for female body fat, it's just a general idea. I know people will say you look very thin, but some people are just built differently than others. Don't worry about it as long as you're not sickly or missing your periods =)

There actually is an absolute low (12% in women, 3% in men).

Everyone is a little different. Certain races need different amounts of body fat, too. There are few "absolutes" that can apply to everyone, and this is not one of them.

You won't find a medical professional encouraging anyone to get that low. Even professional bodybuilders rarely go lower than the numbers I gave, and can't maintain such a low body fat percentage for more than a few hours or days.

I agree that it's not safe and not healthy to maintain a body fat that low.

I went and worked out my B.M.I, height, weight, body fat percentage yesterday and my B.M.I is 20 but my body fat is 14.6% however I am an extremely active person as I do rowing competitively and I have a very balanced diet possibly more on the fatty side if anything, i'm not sure any doctor would reccomend going too low but if it is natural is it really that dangerous? and on that note should be concerned?

I admit I haven't read all the replies, but I wanted to chime in that 14% is NOT too little for women to live on. And women also don't stop having their periods uniformly after goiing below 23%.

People are built differently. They work differently.

Lots of very active women or naturally small women have low body fats.

Hi!

My Body fat is 18.4% I'm very healthy, very active.

My nutritionist told me that for a woman athlete It's OK to be in a range from 15% to 19% body fat.

As long as you don't lose your period and feel energetic and healthy I would say you are OK, but probably worth going to a nutritionist and measuring your real body fat.

 

good luck

Online calculators and home body fat scales are notoriously inaccurate.  They're okay for estimating progress if you're trying to gain/lose body fat (though I've given up on my scale as it fluctuates by more than 5% from day to day).  If you're concerned, get a medical professional to measure your bodyfat percentage for you so that you can get an accurate value.  That said, if you're maintaining your weight eating a healthy balanced diet of about 2000-2500 calories per day (since I'm assuming you're 20 years old), you're likely just naturally thin.