Advice please - losing weight but increasing body fat %

[paul2014]

Hi all.

Asking on behalf of my daughter. She has just text me stating that she has lost 4 lbs but her body fat % has increased. Is this possible? If so, how/why? I've searched online but haven't really found an explanation.

Regards, Paul

[paul2014 Graduate]

Replying to myself here but, it seems it may be due to burning muscle which would reduce weight but not body fat? Confusing

[Beads Graduate]

How has the body fat % been worked out? With one of those pod things that you sit in that displace the air (the scientist in me doesn't get how they work) or by one of those things that you hold (or stand on) that send a current up your arms (legs) and back again? If one of the current ones (more likely) then it's highly susceptible to hydration levels (water as well as fat conducts the current well), so it could simply be due to a change in hydration level.

The other thing to ask is is she comparing two readings (i.e. a 'before' and 'after' reading) or is she comparing lots of readings? Because of the hydration issue you are better off looking at a 'trend', i.e. a lot of readings over a period of time, ignoring odd ones which are higher or lower than the trend, better just to look at how the slope goes, does it go down or up or level.

[paul2014 Graduate]

Thank you beads for the reply and advice. Much appreciated.

I believe it was the latter my daughter used. The possibility of it being an 'odd' reading makes sense and the recommendation to view the readings over a period of time is also makes a lot of sense. I'll text her your reply and it will hopefully make her feel a bit better thanks again for your reply