Liars lie. RT @candrews: It’s not enough to lie about marathon time, now he has to fake his body fat %? PAUL RYAN, WHUT slate.com/articles/news_…

— Jamison Foser (@jamisonfoser) September 18, 2012

Yes, apparently jealous of the media attention his top of ticket running mate is getting, famous numbers wonk and VP candidate Paul Ryan goes back to lying about his physical fitness…

Sounds good. But then he can’t help but brag: “I keep my body fat between 6 and 8 percent,” he tells Allen.

Here’s who else maintains 6 to 8 percent body fat: Olympic 100-meter sprinters, that’s who. Also, world-class boxers, wrestlers, and marathoners, according to this study of elite American athletes. Top collegiate swimmers look pretty fit, right? Well, they average out at a plump 9.5 percent, at least according to another study. Positively porky, compared to Ryan. (For some perspective, the average man has body fat of 17 to 24 percent, and most women a bit more.)

If his claim is to be believed—a Ryan spokesman did not respond to questions—he’s more along the lines of Tour de France cyclists who also get down around 8 or 9 percent to prepare for major races. According to Iigo San Millan, a veteran cycling physiologist who has worked with numerous Tour de France teams, the lowest body fat he’s ever measured on a cyclist was 8.3 percent. That’s at peak fitness, racing shape.

I get the feeling Ryan’s in this so he’ll be famous enough to have a 2am fitness infomercial on TV.