What's the lowest bf% a natural woman is likely to be able to achieve?

[SteelWeaver]

Anyone know?

 

[wilson6]

Probably about 8 - 10%, but the problem is the lower body will appear to be about 15% BF and the upper body about 5% in most.

W6

 

[w84me]

Do you mean natural BB? or just someone who maintains in the gym? my lowest BF% was 8% in my last all natural BB competition. everyone was guessing it was around 6% by appearance but I think the other 2% was divided by each rearend's cheek.

 

[JJFigure]

That's exactly my problem, Wilson. I get a little leaner in my lower body each time I diet down, but my lower body is never as lean as my upper. Damn estrogen!!

I'm usually around 8 percent when I compete. I'll let you guys know my latest stats before I compete at the end of September.

 

[Sassy69]

I was gonna say take a look at any NGA competition and see what those people can pull off all natural. Its freekin amazing! But I'd still guess "likely" to achieve is around 8-10%. I pulled of 8.6% by the calipers, however my ass would measure out something different by itself. I could've easily gone another 5 lbs lighter too.

 

[MS]

I'd agree with the ~8% vote, althought it's REALLY difficult to measure bodyfat accurately at that level in women.

 

[wilson6]

"althought it's REALLY difficult to measure bodyfat accurately at that level in women."

It can be done.

Withers et al. has a skinfold formula validated down to 7.5% for athletic women.

UW weight with RV measured as well as DEXA works pretty well. Found good correlations with UW and DEXA in a couple of women BBs in the 4 - 6% range. In fact, using the 7 site skinfold Withers formula for athletic men works well in pro women BBs and compares well to both DEXA and UW. Lisa Lewis was 4.5% in the Bod Pod contest ready which matched her DEXA and skinfold results within a percent.

Just have to know what to use and how to use it.

W6

 

[MS]

I think it depends an aweful lot on who does the skinfolds and what formula they use to calculate %bf. For an older chick like me, most of the skinfold formulas (and prolly DEXA/UW as well) will tell you my %bf is higher than a 20 year old with the exact same skinfold measurements. From the perspective of a competitive bodybuilder this is nonsensical. No one can see my visceral fat and all that matters is getting those skinfolds as small as possible. It's what they see on the outside that counts, and this is all about subQ fat and fluid retention. Any attempt to convert to %bf seems a little misleading to me if you're talking about a BB female. But that's just an opinion, and we all know opinions are like................