Are BMI's accurate?

simonnatyu
simonnatyu Posts: 13 Member
edited January 2016 in Health and Weight Loss
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I'm 5'4 and 154 pounds. According to my BMI, I'm overweight but I don't look overweight at all so I'm confused, is it accurate? I don't think it's muscle because I don't do anything that would really give me a lot of muscle.

And how many calories should I be eating? I'm not sure how much weight I want to lose, just enough to be comfortable with myself, so maybe 15-20 pounds. I don't do a lot of exercise, but I'm going to start walking/jogging this week. Right now I'm just trying to steady my diet.

Replies

  • josyjozy
    josyjozy Posts: 117 Member
    You are going to get a lot of opinions on BMI. You just said you don't look overweight, and you probably don't. I work in a doctors office and deal with BMI on a daily basis. Many times I look at BMI and think damn. However, you also said you want to lose 15 - 20 pounds. Calculate your BMI at your goal weight and see what it says.

    There has to be some way to standardize the measure. There will always be an exception to the rule. BMI helps physicians capture a majority of correct outcomes, but it's not 100%. Nothing is.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    BMI is a tool for populations but having said that the majority will fit in the very broad ranges.

    There are a few outliers who won't but they are outnumbered by people with a distorted view of "normal" and wishful thinking they are genuine outliers with an exceptional amount of muscle.

    As you "don't do a lot of exercise" would guess you aren't an outlier.
    I kidded myself for years that my build and musculature made me a special case....
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    BMI is a population measures

    And a rough one at that

    It tells a government about its population

    It does not tell an individual about their individual status

    20-25 is a range of BMI within which there are fewer health risks ..for the population

    It's a good enough guideline range for the vast majority ..there are a few outliers, but they are mainly bodybuilders / athletes

    That said it is quite easy to fool oneself, many of us, me included, have been body dysmorphic and think we look great at a certain weight only to look back after losing a fair few pounds and wondering what we saw ...I used to think BMI didn't apply to me, that I was an outlier because large frame and ok musculature....I know have much better musculature and a BMI of 24

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