>Rachel wrote:
>Sounds like they used an electrical impedance device. These machines >are
>highly variable.  They appear to be more reliable with overfat >people than
>with super-lean people.  Body builders, who weigh more >than average people
>for their height, but have very low body fat >levels, often get highly
>inaccurate readings from them.  A 63 year >old super-man of a buy we know,
>had an electrical impedance device >used to test his body fat when he was
>close to a competition and well >under 10% body fat----hard, ripped,
>striated, etc.  The device said >20% body fat----which was laughable!

Very true.  Electrical impedance sucks for bodyfat measurement when
compared
to the 7 site pinch test or full body submersion.  I've seen
bodybuilders
below 9% bodyfat use electrical impedence and it'll ring them up at
20% or
more.  Sometimes EI is accurate, but it's often just a coincidence.


>If you have a high percentage of body at---because fat contains very
> >little water---the smaller the portion of your body will be water.  >If
>you have a lower body fat percentage, you will have more water in >your
>body.  Muscle is about 70% water....

EI also measures water bloat as muscle.  Often people will be a little
bloated after a high sodium or high carb meal.  The EI thinks this
water
bloat is lean tissue and give an inaccurate bodyfat reading.


>By the way, many books suggest that women be 25-30% body fat, which >is
>still very jiggly and saggy and defininitely overfat for an >athletic
>person or a hunter-gatherer (too much fat can really slow >you down).  I
>think 20% body fat is healthier and more attractive >than 25%----no it's
>not emaciated and need not be boyish or >pixie-ish, you'll still have
>curves, breasts, etc unless you were >"gifted" with a flat chest and boyish
>hips (which thank heavens I was >not!!! :-).  Even leaner and more muscular
>may be desirable for >some....!

Theses 25-30% bodyfat books are not guidelines for the few fitness
conscious
women out there.  As usual, these types of books are concerned with
making
the average lazy Mary Jane feel good about herself.

Justin Hasselman