BMI confusion - help!

vet272

When I reach 145lbs, I will be in the healthy range of the BMI. But that range is wide! 108lbs to 145lbs! How do I know where I belong on that scale!
Here I am so excited to be getting close to my goal and I realised that I might not even be half way done

psuLemon

When I reach 145lbs, I will be in the healthy range of the BMI. But that range is wide! 108lbs to 145lbs! How do I know where I belong on that scale!
Here I am so excited to be getting close to my goal and I realised that I might not even be half way done

BMI is horrible; I can be 6% body fat with abs and I will be overweight in terms of BMI. Just look in the mirror to see if you like it. BTW, the more muscle you have, the more you will weigh and the higher in the range you will be. Honestly, weight isn't even a good indicator if you have muscle.

vet272

I have scales that apparently measure body fat but they seam a bit hopeless to be honest. I'm in the uk so my doctor won't entertain helping me find my bf ratio without illness!
Do I try and just concentrate on the bf percentage instead of BMI? And if so, how do I measure it?
Thanks

lighteningjeanne855

How about making 145 lbs. a preliminary goal?
When 145 finally shows up on the scale, you can decide whether or not you are pleased.
Be happy with that accomplishment, and keep working from there.
As you go down, start lifting weights to tone up your muscles as you reduce the fat.
Best Wishes.

rosemary98

body type has a lot to do with it. are you small, medium or large boned (this has nothing to do with weight or fat). if you are medium-boned, for example, you should be right in the middle. but there are other considerations...if you work out extensively and have a lot of muscle...you are apt to weigh more.

jess6742

Just get to 145 and re-evaluate when you get there. I think BMI a good general tool for the average adult. I'm not athletic, just average, so it's a good tool for me. But if you are really muscular then BMI won't really apply to you.

cwolfman13

Do I try and just concentrate on the bf percentage instead of BMI?

I never had a goal weight...I had a BF% and body composition goal. According to BMI I am slightly overweight...but I'm at a perfectly healthy BF%. I'm by no means a body builder...but I have some muscle. BMI is just crap IMHO. It's also ridiculous to watch people get all bent out of shape because they have some arbitrary goal weight of 130 Lbs...but they're 134 and stalled out or something...they're perfectly fine where they are and those few pounds won't make a lick of difference in their body composition...but they've become obsessed with an arbitrary number...it's sad really.

beekay70

It's pretty easy to get a good estimate of your body fat percentage using measuring tape. There are loads of calculators online, along with tables indicating what is healthy. Here's a link to the military body fat calculator: http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/mbf/.

Edited to add that I agree that BMI is not a good indicator of health. It was developed to be an index only: an approximation of a population.

bcattoes

When I reach 145lbs, I will be in the healthy range of the BMI. But that range is wide! 108lbs to 145lbs! How do I know where I belong on that scale!
Here I am so excited to be getting close to my goal and I realised that I might not even be half way done

BMI is horrible; I can be 6% body fat with abs and I will be overweight in terms of BMI. Just look in the mirror to see if you like it. BTW, the more muscle you have, the more you will weigh and the higher in the range you will be. Honestly, weight isn't even a good indicator if you have muscle.

This is much more true for men than women. Even muscular women will usual fit into the healthy range of BMI if they also have a healthy BF%.

OP, if you are more muscular you will be higher in the range, if you are thinner without a lot of muscle you will be in the lower part of the range.

Also, body type (pear, hourglass, apple) and basic body structure (longer arms, wider shoulders or hips. The range is wide because more is needed than just height to determine healthy weight.

skylark94

When I was at my high weight I used the BMI scale to determine my inital goal. 145 put me into the "normal" range as well. From there I started focusing on my body fat percentage instead.

chadraeder3

If you believe the BMI then you believe that George Cloney, Matt Damon, and Brad Pitt are all over weight. The BMI was created in the 1800's for 1800's man, our culture and nutrition has changed dramatically since then. What other health advice do you use today that was used in the 1800's, most likely none.

CyberEd312

BMI is a bunch of crap.... I have lost 312 lbs. and am currently 250 pounds and this chart says I am category 1 Obese..... In my opinion I wouldn't put to much emphasis on it... Best of luck

Tony_Brewski

When I reach 145lbs, I will be in the healthy range of the BMI. But that range is wide! 108lbs to 145lbs! How do I know where I belong on that scale!
Here I am so excited to be getting close to my goal and I realised that I might not even be half way done

BMI is horrible; I can be 6% body fat with abs and I will be overweight in terms of BMI. Just look in the mirror to see if you like it. BTW, the more muscle you have, the more you will weigh and the higher in the range you will be. Honestly, weight isn't even a good indicator if you have muscle.

Um what?

vet272

I used BMI to establish that 145lbs is the heaviest I could be and still be 'healthy'. That is indeed my first goal. I'm not particularly muscular I do t think. Apple shape - I think. Hmmm....

BHKLEIN

I'm going to assume you're probably around 5'3" or 5'4". You're BMI it specific to you only based on a variety of measurements. The range is basically based on your gender, age and height, but I wouldn't use that as a way of determining what you should weigh. What weight you should be at is totally up to how you want yourself to look. For myself: I'm female, 28, 5'4" and I currently weight 135. I have more of an an althetic build and don't carry weight in any one area (basically my excess weight is distributed all over not just in like one spot like my tummy area or my butt and thighs) so I'm shooty for a weight around 123-127. I was once 115 and I had no curves, no lovely lady shape that my hubby likes so much. I was a stick and I think I look much healthier at 123-127. I would take measurements as well: biceps, thighs, waist, hips, etc..... think about your shape and your bone structure. If you're fairly small boned then you could probably go a little lower. Plus if you want to really add some muscle, you will likely weigh slightly higher than someone of the same size, height, age and shape.

treesloth

FWIW, I'm using an Omron Body Fat Analyzer under very uniform, predictable conditions. It has its deficiencies compared to higher-accuracy and -cost methods, but as a means of comparing me to myself, it works. When I reach about 240 pounds, I'll go for a better measure. I can get the "bod pod" test locally for about $20. I'll do that and then come up with a more final figure. But BMI? Bleh. The upside is that it's easy. The downside is that it's useless.

bcattoes

I used BMI to establish that 145lbs is the heaviest I could be and still be 'healthy'. That is indeed my first goal. I'm not particularly muscular I do t think. Apple shape - I think. Hmmm....

BMI, BF% or weight is no guarantee of health, but I think I understand what you mean. And it sounds like a reasonable goal. Once you are there you can re-evaluate to see if like what you see in the mirror. But it's one less risk factor you'll carry.

Best of luck to you. :flowerforyou:

xxmarysmxx

Don't go by BMI it is stupid! Go by how you feel.

beekay70

When I reach 145lbs, I will be in the healthy range of the BMI. But that range is wide! 108lbs to 145lbs! How do I know where I belong on that scale!
Here I am so excited to be getting close to my goal and I realised that I might not even be half way done

BMI is horrible; I can be 6% body fat with abs and I will be overweight in terms of BMI. Just look in the mirror to see if you like it. BTW, the more muscle you have, the more you will weigh and the higher in the range you will be. Honestly, weight isn't even a good indicator if you have muscle.

Um what?

Um, que?

bcattoes

Don't go by BMI it is stupid! Go by how you feel.

No

Morgaath

Using BMI charts, these actors on True Blood are overweight:
Joe Manganiello (The Wolf pack leader), 230lbs - 6'5"
Alexander Skarsgard (Eric Northman), 225 lbs - 6'4"
Ryan Kwanten (Jason Stackhouse), 181lbs - 5'10"
Considering how often they show off their 6pack abs, I have to think there might be something wrong with the BMI system.

bcattoes

Using BMI charts, these actors on True Blood are overweight:
Joe Manganiello (The Wolf pack leader), 230lbs - 6'5"
Alexander Skarsgard (Eric Northman), 225 lbs - 6'4"
Ryan Kwanten (Jason Stackhouse), 181lbs - 5'10"
Considering how often they show off their 6pack abs, I have to think there might be something wrong with the BMI system.

OP is female. How many women can you name that have healthy BF% and high BMI?

beekay70

Using BMI charts, these actors on True Blood are overweight:
Joe Manganiello (The Wolf pack leader), 230lbs - 6'5"
Alexander Skarsgard (Eric Northman), 225 lbs - 6'4"
Ryan Kwanten (Jason Stackhouse), 181lbs - 5'10"
Considering how often they show off their 6pack abs, I have to think there might be something wrong with the BMI system.

OP is female. How many women can you name that have healthy BF% and high BMI?

Reference: http://www.europeanreview.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/390.pdf

bcattoes

Using BMI charts, these actors on True Blood are overweight:
Joe Manganiello (The Wolf pack leader), 230lbs - 6'5"
Alexander Skarsgard (Eric Northman), 225 lbs - 6'4"
Ryan Kwanten (Jason Stackhouse), 181lbs - 5'10"
Considering how often they show off their 6pack abs, I have to think there might be something wrong with the BMI system.

OP is female. How many women can you name that have healthy BF% and high BMI?

Reference: http://www.europeanreview.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/390.pdf

This says the women had a normal BMI.

beekay70

Using BMI charts, these actors on True Blood are overweight:
Joe Manganiello (The Wolf pack leader), 230lbs - 6'5"
Alexander Skarsgard (Eric Northman), 225 lbs - 6'4"
Ryan Kwanten (Jason Stackhouse), 181lbs - 5'10"
Considering how often they show off their 6pack abs, I have to think there might be something wrong with the BMI system.

OP is female. How many women can you name that have healthy BF% and high BMI?

Reference: http://www.europeanreview.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/390.pdf

This says the women had a normal BMI.

What it says is that women can be within the normal BMI, but have an unhealthy body composition. Women can also be outside the normal BMI and have a healthy body composition. BMI has been debunked for diagnosis over and over again.

bcattoes

Using BMI charts, these actors on True Blood are overweight:
Joe Manganiello (The Wolf pack leader), 230lbs - 6'5"
Alexander Skarsgard (Eric Northman), 225 lbs - 6'4"
Ryan Kwanten (Jason Stackhouse), 181lbs - 5'10"
Considering how often they show off their 6pack abs, I have to think there might be something wrong with the BMI system.

OP is female. How many women can you name that have healthy BF% and high BMI?

Reference: http://www.europeanreview.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/390.pdf

This says the women had a normal BMI.

What it says is that women can be within the normal BMI, but have an unhealthy body composition. Women can also be outside the normal BMI and have a healthy body composition. BMI has been debunked for diagnosis over and over again.

Debunked for diagnosis? Since it was never meant for diagnosis, I would imagine so. But there are not many women outside the BMI range with a healthy BF%. It's much more rare than in men.

beekay70

Using BMI charts, these actors on True Blood are overweight:
Joe Manganiello (The Wolf pack leader), 230lbs - 6'5"
Alexander Skarsgard (Eric Northman), 225 lbs - 6'4"
Ryan Kwanten (Jason Stackhouse), 181lbs - 5'10"
Considering how often they show off their 6pack abs, I have to think there might be something wrong with the BMI system.

OP is female. How many women can you name that have healthy BF% and high BMI?

Reference: http://www.europeanreview.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/390.pdf

This says the women had a normal BMI.

What it says is that women can be within the normal BMI, but have an unhealthy body composition. Women can also be outside the normal BMI and have a healthy body composition. BMI has been debunked for diagnosis over and over again.

Debunked for diagnosis? Since it was never meant for diagnosis, I would imagine so. But there are not many women outside the BMI range with a healthy BF%. It's much more rare than in men.

Physicians and insurance companies still use this antiquated method to diagnose or categorize obesity. Even MFP includes it as the only calculator to track physiological progress. Your waist circumference is a much better indicator of a healthy weight than BMI. It may be rarer in women to be above BMI but still within a healthy body fat percentage, but it still happens. What is much more common is for women to fall within a healthy BMI but an unhealthy body fat percentage, i.e. "skinny fat".

bcattoes

People, to include physicians, still use this antiquated method to diagnose or categorize obesity. Even MFP includes it as the only calculator to track physiological progress. Your waist circumference is a much better indicator of a healthy weight than BMI. It may be rarer in women to be above BMI but still within a healthy body fat percentage, but it still happens. What is much more common is for women to fall within a healthy BMI but an unhealthy body fat percentage, i.e. "skinny fat".

Which is a completely different subject than that to which you replied with your link. BMI charts are set based on statistics. Naturally there will outliers. Outliers doesn't make it a bad tool. Few good physicians would diagnosis on BMI alone, though sadly, many insurance companies do. Misusing a tool, doesn't make it a bad tool either.

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/index.html#Why

Why does CDC use BMI to measure overweight and obesity?

Calculating BMI is one of the best methods for population assessment of overweight and obesity. Because calculation requires only height and weight, it is inexpensive and easy to use for clinicians and for the general public. The use of BMI allows people to compare their own weight status to that of the general population.

For a women, having a healthy BMI as a goal is not a bad thing.

beekay70

This is why it isn't meant for individuals: "BMI is one of the best methods for population assessment of overweight and obesity". It is an approximation of a population. Sure, BMI can provide a starting point, but the OP isn't at the starting line. She is fine-tuning her goal.

bcattoes

This is why it isn't meant for individuals: "BMI is one of the best methods for population assessment of overweight and obesity". It is an approximation of a population. Sure, BMI can provide a starting point, but the OP isn't at the starting line. She is fine-tuning her goal.

?? I re-read the OP and it still sounds like healthy BMI is her original goal. Either way, it doesn't change my point. BMI is a pretty good indicator for women.

beekay70

This is why it isn't meant for individuals: "BMI is one of the best methods for population assessment of overweight and obesity". It is an approximation of a population. Sure, BMI can provide a starting point, but the OP isn't at the starting line. She is fine-tuning her goal.

?? I re-read the OP and it still sounds like healthy BMI is her original goal. Either way, it doesn't change my point. BMI is a pretty good indicator for women.

I read her query as "I am getting close to my original goal - which is to be at the top end of a healthy BMI. The healthy range is a rather large window, so where within that window should I aim?" I'm paraphrasing, but the point is that she would need some metric to use in that fine-tuning; which brings us to body fat.