How much too fat is 30 percent body fat, for a female?

Okay I used the U.S. navy method for calculating body fat and I got 30 percent. Assuming that's accurate- and I feel I weigh about ten to fifteen pounds more then my ideal- is that very unhealthy, or just a bit? If it makes a difference, my age is 38 and I'm 5'4". I have large hips with a smaller waist. Hey I am NOT seven sizes to big!!! When I was a lot younger and underweight, I could wear a size five to seven, and now I wear a size eight.

Public Comments

1. yum! sounds sexy i think it would be about 7 sizes. but its nice to see women like that. be proud of who and what u are.
2. You would need a more accurate test than an online chart. Typically, women should not have more than 24% body fat.
3. that sounds very healthy. i think you would be in the healthy weight range on the doctors chart. try doing a BMI test online and it will give you a sheet that tells you where you are at and where you should be.
4. the average body fat percentage for a woman should be betwween 18 - 22. 30 is too much. change your diet and excercise more. you're increasing your chances of developing type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and/or high blood pressure.
5. 30% is around average for women, however not ideal. Around 20% body fat is what you should be aiming for. Its not super hard to acheive, and yes you're right, it is just losing those 10 extra pounds (as long as its just fat that you lose)that will put you at a better fat ratio.
6. You sound pretty darn normal to me. Any less then 10% for a women is not ok unless you are an athlete. Your body needs a certain amount of body fat to protect itself. That is why women tend to hold weight in their stomach hips and thighs (around vital organs and parts). Around 20-30% is just right. Remember that the BMI was made by insurance companies so they would not have to fork over money if you don't fit the criteria.
7. I think 30% is pretty unhealthy. Keep in mind that our nation is 50% overweight/obese, that is not a healthy average to compare your body fat to.
8. the general threshold for being a healthy female is within 5% of 20%. that is just healthwise, not attrativeness. but i dont believe body fat is the best guage of overall health. i believe the best factors are blood pressure, bone density, and lung capacity. but in answer to ur question that might be a little too much healthwise. no its not time to hit the panic button u just might wanna shed a few pounds