Does everyone still use the bmi scale??
Replies
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I'm technically overweight by BMI standards.
My dr gave me a look and said, "You're not overweight." I said, "I know."
Not all healthy bodies look the same; and what LOOKS healthy is subjective.9 -
Yep BMI > 24.9 =overweight.0
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I'm just wondering if the bmi scale is still a thing. Yes I know it exists, however if I went with it. I'm not even 5'2" and I'd look sickly if I was the exact weight they say i should be.
I went to a wellness place and the doctor there told me it's not all about bmi supposedly anymore, but about the shape of your body, your health history and family history.
I'm just wondering what people use now a days to figure out what a "healthy" body is supposed to look like.
Like I said I know everyone is different, but just wondering what people use as a guideline.
Got our 6 months Wellness Checks done at work today and my weight was down 2lbs, resulting in a BMI of 23.9 with all other factors combined. I was actually considered to be in a healthy range overall. My prediabetic status has still not progressed towards full diabetes, and most times my HbA1c numbers are outside of the danger range altogether.0 -
I think BMI is a good measure for most people. My healthy BMI range is 125-160. That’s a pretty big range. My doctor, an M.D., gave me a healthy range to stay in of 145-165. Even at the highest end of my doctors range, which is based on my body shape, health history, and composition, I’d only be 5lb outside of the BMI range.2
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I'm just wondering if the bmi scale is still a thing. Yes I know it exists, however if I went with it. I'm not even 5'2" and I'd look sickly if I was the exact weight they say i should be.
I went to a wellness place and the doctor there told me it's not all about bmi supposedly anymore, but about the shape of your body, your health history and family history.
I'm just wondering what people use now a days to figure out what a "healthy" body is supposed to look like.
Like I said I know everyone is different, but just wondering what people use as a guideline.
What was the weight range given to you?0 -
As an adult I have weighed between 100-180ish lbs. The healthy weight range for my height is 104-145 lbs. I felt bad at 180, pretty good at 150 and too thin at 104 lbs but I felt my best at around 125. For me the BMI is reasonable guide supported by my real world experience.
If you have never been a healthy weight it gives you an idea of what range to shoot for as a goal.
At 5'2" what weight do you feel best at that is not included in the range?8 -
serindipte wrote: »Something to consider regarding the BMI scale:
[excerpt]
Rather, the studies generally suggest that people with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 -- which is considered overweight but not obese -- have a survival advantage over people with higher or lower BMIs.
[excerpt]
In the newly published study, researchers used data from an ongoing Canadian national health survey to follow more than 11,000 adults from the mid-1990s to 2007.
Compared to people who fell into the normal-weight category:
Those classified as underweight were 73% more likely to die.
Those classified as extremely obese with BMI of 35 or greater were 36% more likely to die.
Those classified as obese with BMI 30-34.9 had about the same risk of death.
Those classified as overweight with BMI 25-29.9 were 17% less likely to die.
Source: https://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20090625/study-overweight-people-live-longer#1
Ugh, then why I am I eating salads and running every day? I've been a normal BMI my whole life...by this logic I should fight hard to gain about 15 lbs minimum if I want to live long enough to be a grandma.
I don't really understand why normal weight people would be more likely to die early than above normal weight people...unless the normal people are thin because they are smokers, heroin addicts or do risky behavior like drink and drive.9 -
serindipte wrote: »Something to consider regarding the BMI scale:
[excerpt]
Rather, the studies generally suggest that people with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 -- which is considered overweight but not obese -- have a survival advantage over people with higher or lower BMIs.
[excerpt]
In the newly published study, researchers used data from an ongoing Canadian national health survey to follow more than 11,000 adults from the mid-1990s to 2007.
Compared to people who fell into the normal-weight category:
Those classified as underweight were 73% more likely to die.
Those classified as extremely obese with BMI of 35 or greater were 36% more likely to die.
Those classified as obese with BMI 30-34.9 had about the same risk of death.
Those classified as overweight with BMI 25-29.9 were 17% less likely to die.
Source: https://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20090625/study-overweight-people-live-longer#1
Largely debunked and not recent, but the news media keeps recycling it.
Here is a much larger more recent study:
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/overweight-obesity-mortality-risk/
[excerpt]
For the new study, consortium researchers looked at data from more than 10.6 million participants from 239 large studies, conducted between 1970 and 2015, in 32 countries. A combined 1.6 million deaths were recorded across these studies, in which participants were followed for an average of 14 years. For the primary analyses, to address potential biases caused by smoking and preexisting diseases, the researchers excluded participants who were current or former smokers, those who had chronic diseases at the beginning of the study, and any who died in the first five years of follow-up, so that the group they analyzed included 4 million adults. They looked at participants’ body mass index (BMI)—an indicator of body fat calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared (kg/m2).
The results showed that participants with BMI of 22.5-<25 kg/m2 (considered a healthy weight range) had the lowest mortality risk during the time they were followed. The risk of mortality increased significantly throughout the overweight range: a BMI of 25-<27.5 kg/m2 was associated with a 7% higher risk of mortality; a BMI of 27.5-<30 kg/m2 was associated with a 20% higher risk; a BMI of 30.0-<35.0 kg/m2 was associated with a 45% higher risk; a BMI of 35.0-<40.0 kg/m2 was associated with a 94% higher risk; and a BMI of 40.0-<60.0 kg/m2 was associated with a nearly three-fold risk. Every 5 units higher BMI above 25 kg/m2 was associated with about 31% higher risk of premature death. Participants who were underweight also had a higher mortality risk.19 -
As has been said, BMI is a huge range and for 5'2" it's 101 to 136 lbs. I've never been outside the high end of the range (lifetime max =135) but in my 20's when I was a serious gym rat I often dipped into the high 90's.
I just know I feel bulky and awkward over ca. 115 lbs. I lose agility, flexibility, and energy when I go over that mark. So I guess the answer would be the best weight is where your body feels the most efficient and functional.3 -
Running_and_Coffee wrote: »serindipte wrote: »Something to consider regarding the BMI scale:
[excerpt]
Rather, the studies generally suggest that people with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 -- which is considered overweight but not obese -- have a survival advantage over people with higher or lower BMIs.
[excerpt]
In the newly published study, researchers used data from an ongoing Canadian national health survey to follow more than 11,000 adults from the mid-1990s to 2007.
Compared to people who fell into the normal-weight category:
Those classified as underweight were 73% more likely to die.
Those classified as extremely obese with BMI of 35 or greater were 36% more likely to die.
Those classified as obese with BMI 30-34.9 had about the same risk of death.
Those classified as overweight with BMI 25-29.9 were 17% less likely to die.
Source: https://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20090625/study-overweight-people-live-longer#1
Ugh, then why I am I eating salads and running every day? I've been a normal BMI my whole life...by this logic I should fight hard to gain about 15 lbs minimum if I want to live long enough to be a grandma.
I don't really understand why normal weight people would be more likely to die early than above normal weight people...unless the normal people are thin because they are smokers, heroin addicts or do risky behavior like drink and drive.
See my post a couple up...3 -
Along with other measures of health, BMI has been helpful for me when trying to pick a goal weight because I had no idea what to aim for. Body composition is also relevant. I've been overweight my entire adult life so I don't even know what a healthy weight looks like. I'm 5'1" and 133 pounds with a BMI of 25.1. The range for my height is 100-131 pounds so I'm considered overweight. I have no idea what my body fat percentage is but I do follow a progressive lifting program and have from the very beginning when I was 195 pounds. From an aesthetics standpoint, I'm definitely not skeletal. Obviously that's going to be subjective and based on body composition for others. I'm aiming for the upper middle BMI range and not planning to go below 120 so I don't sacrifice too much muscle.6
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My health insurance uses it.3
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My doctor uses it. Now that I’m literally 2 pounds from the top of “normal BMI”, I can see how getting more toward the middle of it will be where I’ll look/feel best. I also always thought I had a “large frame” but I’ve come to the realization that it was just fat all along. I stopped deluding myself.21
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deputy_randolph wrote: »I'm technically overweight by BMI standards.
My dr gave me a look and said, "You're not overweight." I said, "I know."
Not all healthy bodies look the same; and what LOOKS healthy is subjective.
Same.3 -
CarvedTones wrote: »serindipte wrote: »Something to consider regarding the BMI scale:
[excerpt]
Rather, the studies generally suggest that people with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 -- which is considered overweight but not obese -- have a survival advantage over people with higher or lower BMIs.
[excerpt]
In the newly published study, researchers used data from an ongoing Canadian national health survey to follow more than 11,000 adults from the mid-1990s to 2007.
Compared to people who fell into the normal-weight category:
Those classified as underweight were 73% more likely to die.
Those classified as extremely obese with BMI of 35 or greater were 36% more likely to die.
Those classified as obese with BMI 30-34.9 had about the same risk of death.
Those classified as overweight with BMI 25-29.9 were 17% less likely to die.
Source: https://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20090625/study-overweight-people-live-longer#1
Largely debunked and not recent, but the news media keeps recycling it.
Here is a much larger more recent study:
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/overweight-obesity-mortality-risk/
[excerpt]
For the new study, consortium researchers looked at data from more than 10.6 million participants from 239 large studies, conducted between 1970 and 2015, in 32 countries. A combined 1.6 million deaths were recorded across these studies, in which participants were followed for an average of 14 years. For the primary analyses, to address potential biases caused by smoking and preexisting diseases, the researchers excluded participants who were current or former smokers, those who had chronic diseases at the beginning of the study, and any who died in the first five years of follow-up, so that the group they analyzed included 4 million adults. They looked at participants’ body mass index (BMI)—an indicator of body fat calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared (kg/m2).
The results showed that participants with BMI of 22.5-<25 kg/m2 (considered a healthy weight range) had the lowest mortality risk during the time they were followed. The risk of mortality increased significantly throughout the overweight range: a BMI of 25-<27.5 kg/m2 was associated with a 7% higher risk of mortality; a BMI of 27.5-<30 kg/m2 was associated with a 20% higher risk; a BMI of 30.0-<35.0 kg/m2 was associated with a 45% higher risk; a BMI of 35.0-<40.0 kg/m2 was associated with a 94% higher risk; and a BMI of 40.0-<60.0 kg/m2 was associated with a nearly three-fold risk. Every 5 units higher BMI above 25 kg/m2 was associated with about 31% higher risk of premature death. Participants who were underweight also had a higher mortality risk.
Thank you. I'd never seen the update.0 -
I go by the BMI. I am picking my top weight for my height (5'4") as my goal weight, which will be 145 lbs. Or else how would I know what my goal weight would be?0
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serindipte wrote: »CarvedTones wrote: »serindipte wrote: »Something to consider regarding the BMI scale:
[excerpt]
Rather, the studies generally suggest that people with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 -- which is considered overweight but not obese -- have a survival advantage over people with higher or lower BMIs.
[excerpt]
In the newly published study, researchers used data from an ongoing Canadian national health survey to follow more than 11,000 adults from the mid-1990s to 2007.
Compared to people who fell into the normal-weight category:
Those classified as underweight were 73% more likely to die.
Those classified as extremely obese with BMI of 35 or greater were 36% more likely to die.
Those classified as obese with BMI 30-34.9 had about the same risk of death.
Those classified as overweight with BMI 25-29.9 were 17% less likely to die.
Source: https://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20090625/study-overweight-people-live-longer#1
Largely debunked and not recent, but the news media keeps recycling it.
Here is a much larger more recent study:
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/overweight-obesity-mortality-risk/
[excerpt]
For the new study, consortium researchers looked at data from more than 10.6 million participants from 239 large studies, conducted between 1970 and 2015, in 32 countries. A combined 1.6 million deaths were recorded across these studies, in which participants were followed for an average of 14 years. For the primary analyses, to address potential biases caused by smoking and preexisting diseases, the researchers excluded participants who were current or former smokers, those who had chronic diseases at the beginning of the study, and any who died in the first five years of follow-up, so that the group they analyzed included 4 million adults. They looked at participants’ body mass index (BMI)—an indicator of body fat calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared (kg/m2).
The results showed that participants with BMI of 22.5-<25 kg/m2 (considered a healthy weight range) had the lowest mortality risk during the time they were followed. The risk of mortality increased significantly throughout the overweight range: a BMI of 25-<27.5 kg/m2 was associated with a 7% higher risk of mortality; a BMI of 27.5-<30 kg/m2 was associated with a 20% higher risk; a BMI of 30.0-<35.0 kg/m2 was associated with a 45% higher risk; a BMI of 35.0-<40.0 kg/m2 was associated with a 94% higher risk; and a BMI of 40.0-<60.0 kg/m2 was associated with a nearly three-fold risk. Every 5 units higher BMI above 25 kg/m2 was associated with about 31% higher risk of premature death. Participants who were underweight also had a higher mortality risk.
Thank you. I'd never seen the update.
The problem with the first study is that it didn't address "wasting," or people who lose weight due to disease. Since losing weight can be one of the first signs of fatal illness, failing to separate out these people skewed the numbers overall, which is what the second study attempted to correct for.10 -
I think the biggest problem with the first study was using the wide ranges. I think the healthy range is too wide and shouldn't go below 20; I don't know anyone with a below 20 BMI that looks healthy. Anyway, I think the people in that range dragged down the mortality of the healthy group.13
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rheddmobile wrote: »serindipte wrote: »CarvedTones wrote: »serindipte wrote: »Something to consider regarding the BMI scale:
[excerpt]
Rather, the studies generally suggest that people with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 -- which is considered overweight but not obese -- have a survival advantage over people with higher or lower BMIs.
[excerpt]
In the newly published study, researchers used data from an ongoing Canadian national health survey to follow more than 11,000 adults from the mid-1990s to 2007.
Compared to people who fell into the normal-weight category:
Those classified as underweight were 73% more likely to die.
Those classified as extremely obese with BMI of 35 or greater were 36% more likely to die.
Those classified as obese with BMI 30-34.9 had about the same risk of death.
Those classified as overweight with BMI 25-29.9 were 17% less likely to die.
Source: https://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20090625/study-overweight-people-live-longer#1
Largely debunked and not recent, but the news media keeps recycling it.
Here is a much larger more recent study:
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/overweight-obesity-mortality-risk/
[excerpt]
For the new study, consortium researchers looked at data from more than 10.6 million participants from 239 large studies, conducted between 1970 and 2015, in 32 countries. A combined 1.6 million deaths were recorded across these studies, in which participants were followed for an average of 14 years. For the primary analyses, to address potential biases caused by smoking and preexisting diseases, the researchers excluded participants who were current or former smokers, those who had chronic diseases at the beginning of the study, and any who died in the first five years of follow-up, so that the group they analyzed included 4 million adults. They looked at participants’ body mass index (BMI)—an indicator of body fat calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared (kg/m2).
The results showed that participants with BMI of 22.5-<25 kg/m2 (considered a healthy weight range) had the lowest mortality risk during the time they were followed. The risk of mortality increased significantly throughout the overweight range: a BMI of 25-<27.5 kg/m2 was associated with a 7% higher risk of mortality; a BMI of 27.5-<30 kg/m2 was associated with a 20% higher risk; a BMI of 30.0-<35.0 kg/m2 was associated with a 45% higher risk; a BMI of 35.0-<40.0 kg/m2 was associated with a 94% higher risk; and a BMI of 40.0-<60.0 kg/m2 was associated with a nearly three-fold risk. Every 5 units higher BMI above 25 kg/m2 was associated with about 31% higher risk of premature death. Participants who were underweight also had a higher mortality risk.
Thank you. I'd never seen the update.
The problem with the first study is that it didn't address "wasting," or people who lose weight due to disease. Since losing weight can be one of the first signs of fatal illness, failing to separate out these people skewed the numbers overall, which is what the second study attempted to correct for.
That makes sense!0 -
Shouty, what have you been told about sticking to your own threads?6
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