“Overfat” includes the usual “overweight” and “obese” categories, but also “metabolically obese, normal weight (MONW) individuals (9, 48, 78) and could include up to 40% of normal-weight individuals” as well as some other categories.
I didn’t see a clear definition of “overfat” in the first article. Perhaps I missed it, because the article is very long. It appears that the article deems waist circumference better than BMI for setting criteria. I can’t argue with that. But what then is the waist circumference threshold for “overfat”?
Anyone that does strength training by lifting weights knows that BMI is a joke. You can be “overweight” according to BMI, but completely ripped in appearance.
Btw, the first article states that the normal body fat range for men should be 8-20%. Ha. It’s incredibly hard to get down to 8%. At 8%, you’re approaching the target for body building competitions.
See the second article (prevalence) - Figure 4 indicates waist should be less than half your height.
My mother is a perfect example of being overfat - she is very thin, but doesn’t exercise, doesn’t eat well, and has most of her weight around her abdomen.
I’m not too sure about the rule of thumb mentioned, i.e. If your waist is 50% of your height then you’re overfat. Different people have different builds, e.g. Serena Williams vs Maria Sharapova, or Clint Eastwood vs Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Clint and Dwayne are probably similar in height but I’d bet Dwayne’s waist is several inches larger while carrying no additional fat. And Serena is shorter than Maria but with a thicker waist; I don’t think Serena is carrying any excess fat but her ratio is probably much closer to 50% than Maria.
This is obviously another way to warn people against carrying excess abdominal fat, but the rule of thumb part seems a little bit biased against people with naturally thicker torsos who might also be on the shorter side, e.g. People who might be described as “stocky” but aren’t actually fat.
Duel Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) is now the gold standard for body fat measurements.
BMI and waist circumference are inaccurate, but are obviously attractive to the medical community because they are so easy to establish. Btw, home body fat scales, based on bioelectrical impedance, also often generate garbage.
If guidelines are to be set for “fat,” “obese,” “overfat,” etc. then everyone should insist on a measurement methodology that is accurate. Picking something just because it’s quick and easy is not good science.
My dr wants me to get a dexa scan to check my bone density, I wonder if I can just add this on. It’s not like I’m completely unaware, but may be good information to have if I start feeling too good about myself. lol
I try to get the hydrostatic body fat test, typically once every 12-24 months, where you lay on your stomach in a large tub of water and then blow out all the air in your lungs. The cost is about $40 and the health clubs around here will have “body fat test” days a truck will come and test both members and non-members of the club. The test takes about 15-ish minutes and they give you several pages of paperwork that is spit out by the machine. Besides your body fat %, the test tells your metabolism rate, how many calories you burn at rest, how many you calories you need to maintain to keep your current weight and/or lose weight, etc.
I’d like to get the DEXA done, which is more accurate, but just haven’t gotten around to it.
BTW, the most elite athletes in the world leanest athletes typically compete at levels of about 7-13% body fat for men or 14–20% body fat for women.
I remember an article about Chris Froome, the winner of the Tour De France the past several years having a body fat % of around 9.8%, which means he was somewhere between 8 and 12% at the time of the test(s) (because of the imperfect accuracy of the tests).
Yeah, it’s insane that they consider 8% the low end of the “normal” range. Guys with a great “beach body” normally come in around 12%. E.g., Ryan Gosling in Crazy, Stupid Love is probably about 12%.
If you google “body fat images” you’ll see that there are pictures of people with verified body fat percentages - in a broad range. Here’s a completely free way to estimate your body fat: look in the mirror and then compare what you see with those images.
It is always best to prevent than to treat. If you search pubmed for “obesity plus X”, many articles will come up showing a link between the two. Your joints and your brain are affected by the extra weight.
“Overfatness” does not equal obesity. Also, I am underweight, which carries health risks, too, mostly ignored by scientists and health-care professionals.
Obesity starts somewhere. There used to be little interest in studying effects of “a few extra pounds,” and thus most studies focus on the extremes. I am sure more studies will be coming out saying that carrying those extra inches is not that great after all and that it puts a huge burden on the national health care.
Having excess visceral fat is a risk factor for serious health problems. One could be normal weight, not obese, but at risk for cardiovascular and other problems. I know this as I have struggled with it.