BMI Vs How you look/feel

Phill2488

According to the BMI I'm underweight. Only by about 5 pounds, so I'm not extremely underweight, and yet I look perfectly fine. Yes, I'm skinny, but you can't see my ribcage . I feel more energetic, I feel stronger (Cause I've been lifting more) and people tell me I look good. And I do eat (McDonald's is my happy place). So I'm not starving myself everyday.

All this really makes me think that the BMI is B.S

usmcmp

There is a certain point where BMI is a good indication of overall health. Being underweight or overweight has health risks. I'm at a point where even with very low body fat I would be overweight on the BMI scale. I have lots of lean mass. It's still tough on my joints to carry the extra weight, whether it is muscle or fat.

Being underweight carries a risk of disrupted hormones, suppressed immune system, poor nutrient/vitamin absorption, and deficient digestive enzymes (just to name a few). Although you may be healthy there might be benefits to gaining some weight.

Francl27

Well it depends a lot on your body frame too.

SweatLikeDog

BMI isn't a very accurate measure of obesity if you are muscular. Body fat percent is more telling. If you want to get more meaning out of BMI though, combine it with waist circumference:

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-pro/guidelines/current/obesity-guidelines/e_textbook/txgd/4142.htm

usmcmp

SweatLikeDog wrote: »

BMI isn't a very accurate measure of obesity if you are muscular. Body fat percent is more telling. If you want to get more meaning out of BMI though, combine it with waist circumference:

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-pro/guidelines/current/obesity-guidelines/e_textbook/txgd/4142.htm

I think you missed the part where the OP is underweight. Being underweight means low lean mass and potentially other issues.

AggressivelyUnhungry

I have the same problem - going off of BMI, I'm considered to be underweight by a few pounds, but look just fine. For me, it's mostly because of my build and body shape. I have a fairly rectangular shape (compared to most of the female population), and small bones on top of that, so I'm not inclined to carry much weight. However, I'm quite healthy. There are lots of factors that can affect your BMI.

The bottom line: how you feel is more important than a number!

dopeysmelly

I like to hedge my bets, so I've looked at a range of metrics including BMI, waist/height ratio, waist/hip ratio and also how I feel/look (although I tend to find that is the most subjective so I don't really think about that a whole lot - case in point, my ribcage is pretty lean but my thighs are flabby in spots).

MFPUser76223

According to my BMI I'm overweight but I'm felling pretty normal. Guess it's because of muscles...

msrolton

I was told by a specialt health consultant in singapore to ignore the BMI. Go on how you feel and look. I'm a size 10, BMI says I'm 'just' and mean 'just' healthy. My low BMI says I can lose another 3 stone, 3 pounds. I'd look so unwell! So I'm sticking with where I am.

As long as you maintain and don't keep losing weight. If you're happy - just enjoy being svelt! :-)

neogramps

BMI was never intended to be applied to individuals; it was created to look at population statistics across whole countries and how it relates to health. It takes no account of muscle mass whatsoever. If I were to go to the low end of my "healthy BMI", i'd look like i'd been starved for 6 months.

bigd66218

I felt my best at a healthy BMI under 25 happy and full of energy. I still have 33 pounds to go!!

RaspberryTickleChicken

I think BMI is a good starting point for goal setting purposes but it certainly shouldn't be the holy grail by any means as it does not take into account a number of important factors:

• body frame - petite, hearty, athletic etc.
• body fat weight vs. lean muscle weight - body builders will typically be 'obese' on BMI but their body fat will range in the teens if not lower

I think as long as one is eating well balanced meals, exercising, and is not exhibiting any fatigue or mental fog, then that is the 'healthy' or 'happy' weight for that person - regardless of what some chart states.

It's important to keep in mind that any charts & figures nowadays were created back in the 40s & 50s, I don't know any of the widely popular used measures having been updated within the last 10 years. These charts & figures are also based on average people so if someone falls outside of that 'average' the #s will not be an accurate assessment.

SO just listen to your body, use common sense, & take everything else with a grain of salt.

Sued0nim

Check with a medical professional who can run appropriate tests and scans ..nobody here can say that's OK because we absolutely don't know.

But it is more concerning to be at the underweight side than the just overweight side

marissafit06

rabbitjb wrote: »

Check with a medical professional who can run appropriate tests and scans ..nobody here can say that's OK because we absolutely don't know.

But it is more concerning to be at the underweight side than the just overweight side

This. BMI is more likely to be off for athletes, people like poster above who have lots of lbm and low body fat. That being said at one point in HS I would have had a BMI of 18.1 and while I was thin, I wasn't unhealthy. You and your doctor know what's best for you body.

nxd10

5 pounds and you're 5' tall or 5 pounds and you're 6' tall? It's proportional. My kids are both at the bottom end of 'healthy' by BMI, but they're 6'2". 5 pounds under for them is proportionally much less than it would be for someone who is petite.

Laura3BB

Well I think BMI does give us a good indication of where we stand....The definitions of over weight or underweights using BMI are based on long-term deleterious effects on health of our weight....
Striving for a normal BMI is generally a good idea!

Sued0nim

Laura3BB wrote: »

Well I think BMI does give us a good indication of where we stand....The definitions of over weight or underweights using BMI are based on long-term deleterious effects on health of our weight....
Striving for a normal BMI is generally a good idea!

for 75% of the population yes it's a goodish rule of thumb

but 25% of the population being outliers is a huge number of people - people who have more musculature, professional athletes, large frames can be healthy outside the statistical norm of the 19th century mathematician created formula that underpins BMI charts (by the way the guy who invented it in the 1800s said it shouldn't be used on an individual level, it's for population analysis)

that said again more concerning when underweight than just overweight .. that needs medical confirmation

myfatass78

Mmmm. Last time around I got down to 47.5kg which is still within the healthy weight range for my height. However my ribs were poking out and my periods had stopped.

tomatoey

rabbitjb wrote: »

Check with a medical professional who can run appropriate tests and scans ..nobody here can say that's OK because we absolutely don't know.

But it is more concerning to be at the underweight side than the just overweight side

agree

tomatoey

rabbitjb wrote: »

Laura3BB wrote: »

Well I think BMI does give us a good indication of where we stand....The definitions of over weight or underweights using BMI are based on long-term deleterious effects on health of our weight....
Striving for a normal BMI is generally a good idea!

for 75% of the population yes it's a goodish rule of thumb

but 25% of the population being outliers is a huge number of people - people who have more musculature, professional athletes, large frames can be healthy outside the statistical norm of the 19th century mathematician created formula that underpins BMI charts (by the way the guy who invented it in the 1800s said it shouldn't be used on an individual level, it's for population analysis)

this may be true, but i suspect a lot of people who ought to be counted in that 75% think they're in the 25%

Packerjohn

tomatoey wrote: »

rabbitjb wrote: »

Laura3BB wrote: »

Well I think BMI does give us a good indication of where we stand....The definitions of over weight or underweights using BMI are based on long-term deleterious effects on health of our weight....
Striving for a normal BMI is generally a good idea!

for 75% of the population yes it's a goodish rule of thumb

but 25% of the population being outliers is a huge number of people - people who have more musculature, professional athletes, large frames can be healthy outside the statistical norm of the 19th century mathematician created formula that underpins BMI charts (by the way the guy who invented it in the 1800s said it shouldn't be used on an individual level, it's for population analysis)

this may be true, but i suspect a lot of people who ought to be counted in that 75% think they're in the 25%

I would agree. I've heard the number 85% of the population thrown around as BMI being valid , but directionally the same as mentioned in the post quoted. There aren't that many professional athletes out there.

TheSatinPumpkin

Currently lost 250lbs (Starting BMI was 63.8 - Class III Morbid Obesity" and would need to lose another 16lbs to enter the recommended healthy range which i just don't see that happening or want to cause i feel great physically and mentally at my current weight.

I met my size goal but would like to go down 2-3lbs just for a "buffer" while in maintenance.

kristen6350

I feel best between a 21 & 22 BMI. At 25 I feel like a big tub of lard. Everyone is different. Go by the way you feel.

melimomTARDIS

I have a BMI of 20, and I feel that if I lost more weight i'd cross into that "unhealthfully thin" look. Really I dont even want to lose 5 more lbs. This is the lowest weight I feel comfortable with.

paradi3s

BMI is exactly 18.5 (108 lbs 5'4 18 yrs old). Close to underweight. How I look? I like the way I look though I need to tone. How I feel? I feel great that I've reached my goal (though went under), but need to start lifting.

nlbez

I am on the top end of my healthy range,if i have a bad week i enter the over weight range but im happy where i am. I have weighed less and dont look good my face looked gaunt and i looked to thin. Im happy with a uk size 10/12 x

yirara

myfatass78 wrote: »

Mmmm. Last time around I got down to 47.5kg which is still within the healthy weight range for my height. However my ribs were poking out and my periods had stopped.

Well.. my ribs and collar bones were seriously visible at a BMI of 26. Now at 21 or so my pelvis bones are poking out. Reminds me why I never liked to wear jeans as they damaged the skin above my pelvis bones. If I look at my midsection I'm sure my BMI should be much lower (have wide ribs and pelvis), but my legs are a different story alltogether.

ryanhorn

A number (weight, BMI, etc) should never define you as a person. If you feel great, look great, and are happy, keep on doing you and enjoying life! Life's too short to conform to a perfect number if you don't need to!

JoRumbles

I have a BMI of 26 and TBH, yes, I am a little overweight, that's why I am on here. However, I know that I will be very slim at a BMI of 22, I've been there before and I looked thin, but not underweight. I dread to think what I would look like with a BMI of 18.5- but then I have never been there.

Phill2488

Bit of an update. I've been to the doctor to make sure that there are no serious problems with me, and he said I'm perfectly healthy

MichaelVakili

Don't trust blindly the BMI. You can trust a before/after picture ,clothes and mirror. Other than that ,it's all bs.