A lot of it is genetics. First of all, very rare for women to naturally have a six pack. For men, it's much more likely, but still has to do with where you store fat. My ex had a rock solid six pack and worked out occasionally but never did anything crazy- he stored any weight mostly in his lower body. I'm the opposite- definitely carry my weight in my stomach and have been under 17% BF and still had nowhere near a six pack and more like a little pooch no matter how thin. Actually if I gain weight it looks smaller in proportion because then it's not the only part of my body just jutting out, lol.
TL;DR: totally based on where your genes decide to store things

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The size of your pack is purely genetic -- different people have different muscle structures.

The visibility of your pack is how much fat your body retains or avoids building.

It has nothing to do with how strong your muscles are.

Stop ogling your son.

Omg get help. You truly need it.

+1

What a weirdo comment... I wanna see that person's search history...

Weighted ab exercises make the muscles grow and pop out. Most people don't know these exist and only stick with useless bodyweight exercises. Get a set of resistance bands and start doing standing cable crunches.

Anonymous wrote:Meh I am a late 30 yr old woman and I have ~17% body fat (I know because they measured at my last gym intake) which is not that low.

It's not that hard...do a lot of heavy lifting that uses core (deadlifts, kettle ball etc) and don't eat crap, higher protein ideally. Limit cardio as that will just burn the muscle. I work a 9-5 and have kids and have a visible 6 pack. 🤷

Not. Everyone. Has. The. Same. Body. Type.

Meh I am a late 30 yr old woman and I have ~17% body fat (I know because they measured at my last gym intake) which is not that low.

It's not that hard...do a lot of heavy lifting that uses core (deadlifts, kettle ball etc) and don't eat crap, higher protein ideally. Limit cardio as that will just burn the muscle. I work a 9-5 and have kids and have a visible 6 pack. 🤷

Anonymous wrote:If you are my teenage son, absolutely nothing you eat carbs all day don't lift weights (but do play sports).

I've never in my life had a 6 pack. Even when I got super skinny and did weights, no 6 pack. Did not win the genetic lotto

Same. It’s got to be genetics. I was a thin, waifish dance teamer, about 115 lbs. and super fit in HS and never had a six pack. Flat stomach, yes, but never definition.

It takes very low body fat, OP. Men have less body fat than women on average.

If you're thin enough and have an average amount of muscle, you will have a 6 pack. Even when I was very thin and worked out, I always had a little belly, so I had a "5 pack". 4 abs on top and the bottom two covered by a layer of fat!