Am I only able to float on my back in a pool because of the extra pounds on me?

Question

None of my fit friends said they could do it.

I never thought it was a fat thing.

Answer 1

They are wrong. Anyone who has 2 lungs full of air will be buoyant.  

Answer 2

Fat is less dense than water but muscle is denser so it is easier to float when ur fat.

Answer 3

No anyone can float, they must not be doing it right. It took me a while but I learned to float on my back and I am 5'2 106 pounds so it has nothing to do with weight.

Answer 4

It kind of is true.  Muscle sinks, fat floats.  So even though they might weigh more than you, they might have more muscle than you.  Also, young children and kids still growing tend to sink.  I'm not sure the reasoning behind that, but I know it's true.  Also, it could be just that they aren't doing it correctly.  To float, you need to relax completely and have air in your lungs.  If you tense, you sink and your more likely to sink if you have nothing in your lungs.  Personally, I have never been able to float and it annoys the heck out of me.  I don't have much fat on me and I'm still growing however I try to float relaxed and with air in my lungs and I can for about 2 seconds then I sink.  So, it all depends!!

Answer 5

No, actually the fat will make you more buoyant. You probably just aren't using the right technique.