How much info can body fat really tell you?

**bigdogc** · 02-06-2007, 11:21 PM

Hey, im a long time lurker who doesnt post anymore, but recently i have had this question. In BMI and BMR tests body fat plays no importantace and im trying to help a friend lose weight. are there any other equations i can use that include body fat % that would tell me what kinda diet i need to put him on?

**MuscleScience** · 02-06-2007, 11:25 PM

go to a gym, have someone who has lots of experiance with skinfold calipers, usually at least 100 completed. If your anything above 20-25% body fat. Calorie restriction is the diet for you.

**bigdogc** · 02-06-2007, 11:29 PM

if i have a friend that is 200 pounds 5'10 age 25 with 5%bf the calorie intake will be different from someone that is 200 pounds 5'10 age 25 with 15%bf correct?
i use my BMR formulas and i will get the same calorie intake in each case. are there other formulas that can help me fix my problem?

**dirtythirty** · 02-06-2007, 11:30 PM

skinfold calipers are an easy way. I nice accurate caliper is expensive though. Most gyms offer a fitness evaluation. but i've always found the most important factor is the clients personal goals and their daily activities. sometimes the biggest goal is just being able to do something they used to enjoy doing all the time.......

**dirtythirty** · 02-06-2007, 11:33 PM

damn im slow. if body fat is the biggest concern....nearby universities will most likely offer what is known as a BOD POD this is the most accurate method. I am an exercise physiologist major and we do them all the time for town residents

**bigdogc** · 02-06-2007, 11:35 PM

any equations similar to BMR calculations that include body fat?

**MuscleScience** · 02-06-2007, 11:39 PM

Just take a week long log of his average caloric intake. If he wants to lose weight he needs to shed around 500 calories a day out of his diet. Any more than that and you run the risk of depressing his metabolic rate. Then you up the cardio to at least 30 minute bouts at somewhere around 60 percent of Max Heart rate. 30 minutes a day for 5-7 days will get great results as long as the diet is followed. 30 minutes will equal about 250-300 calories burned. If say he does it 5 days thats conservatively 1300 calories burned. One pound of fat equals 3500 calories. So add this numbers up and you get a negative energy balance of about 4800 calories per week. Which is about 1.4 pounds of fat. Typically when losing weight the general rule is to lose about 2 pounds a week. Any more and again you run the risk of depressing the metabolism.