BMI Charts

[joeysmom]

Does anyone else think these things are crazy???? Maybe I'm just in denial! ;)

[CliveL]

They take no account of build crazy numbers I am BMI of 28 with virtually no body fat.

[tanyatype1]

They take no account of build crazy numbers I am BMI of 28 with virtually no body fat.

But, that's why there's a range of what's "healthy" :)

[Evermont]

The Wikipedia article on BMI (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_Mass_Index) talks about the problems with BMI. It mentions body type like Clive was saying, also BMI-for-age.
The wiki on body fat percentage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_fat_percentage) also discusses problems with BMI as well as a number of other methods.

I think BMI is popular 'cause it's real easy - not 'cause it's good.

[Gangrel]

But, that's why there's a range of what's "healthy" :)

But they consider a BMI of 28 as "overweight". I am a 28 on the scale too.... and while I can't claim to have zero body fat (the beer has to go somewhere) I'm also not a blob.....

Basically, for me to have a "healthy" BMI I need to weigh 160 pounds. My left butt cheek might weigh 160 pounds!

[camjen1]

I'm overweight! :eek:

[mho357]

I agree. When I was 20 and in good shape (ran 30 miles/week) I weighed 155 and had no fat. I think that the BMI charts say I should weigh 135 or something ridiculous like that. I'm short but stout build.

The BMI charts are useless in my opinion.

Mark

[MJB]

Why trust a methodology that would have Walter Payton listed as obese at the height of his NFL career?

[joeysmom]

I am so glad I'm not the only one having problem with the charts! I'm on a weight loss program right now and know my body better than any BMI chart can, and what they want me to weigh seems close to absurd to me! It can be depressing to think your goal weight would still leave you as overweight!

[tanyatype1]

They say now that more important than your BMI, is your waist circumference. It has to do with the visceral fat around your organs. That reminds me,...time for lunch!

[DeusXM]

BMI is based around the principle that every has similar fat-to-muscle ratios. Whilst this isn't always the case, generally BMI isn't too far off being right, but it in itself shouldn't be taken as the single defining measurement of whether someone is overweight or not.

I would say at the very least there should be different BMI targets for men and women, since women genetically must carry around 10% more fat than men anyway.

I would say that 'culturally', BMI is probably way off for the UK and US - because people in those countries tend be fat anyway, a lot of people have a false perception of what is overweight and what isn't. Medically though, it isn't that wrong.

[JJM335]

Apparently all 32 members of the England World Cup Rugby Squad have BMI's that classify them as obese. That's because they are heavily muscled rather than fat. Some of these "obese" players have ~8% body fat, and can run throughout an 80 mins game.

[Diana]

But the majority of people dont have anywhere near as much muscle as a rugby player - for the majority of people, the BMI is a pretty good guide to a healthy body weight. Of course, if you are overweight, any weight loss is a good thing, even if it doesnt put you in the healthy range of BMI.

[slipperyelm]

Like most type 2s, my BMI is over what the charts say it should be. In my case it is way over what they say it should be. However, I think the charts are correct in the ranges they would name as healthy for me. And there are separate BMI charts for men and women, of course.

I have spent my entire life overweight. As a child I could at least show that I was very fit, regardless of weight. (Not so anymore.) A part of my psyche is quite well adjusted to being overweight. However, only in recent years am I becoming accustomed to "everybody else" being overweight. It still seems otherworldly to me sometimes to see so many greatly overweight people.

When I was young, it was hard to find clothing in stores to fit. I had few clothes because I couldn't find them to buy and did not know how to sew. Now I can go to most any clothing store and choose from the smaller sizes among the glut of "plus sizes" Those plus sizes exist now because so many people have gotten as outsized as me or even more so.

So I think at least USAmerican society is caught up in mental revisions as to what is "normal," and desirable, weightwise. But normal might not be healthy. And I do think the BMI charts are on track for healthy sustainable ranges.