Morbidly obese, Really??

jennpaulson

I was just wondering if any of the other guys or girls out there who lift heavy on a regular basis for extended amounts of time have been told by their doctors that they are obese or morbidly obese? My guy was at his doctors recently and that's what he told him. B knows that he eats really healthy and works out 5-6 days of the week but it really bothered him for the doctor to say that. And take it from me he's solid muscle from top to bottom. So is it just a weight to height ratio thing? Do they not take into any consideration the shape you're in?



A little blurry I know but it's the most recent without a shirt that I have of him. He's 5'10" 225 lbs.

suppakana

If he's morbidly obese... Well I should already be dead, we'll leave it at that.

jewel22887

That is the problem with a BMI it doesn't worry about composition just mass.

theoriginaljayne

His doctor, it seems, is relying solely on BMI and not, you know, actual physical evidence of health.

Granted, I'm not a doctor, but I don't think your friend needs to worry about obesity.

sweebum

BMI is grossly inaccurate in people who are muscular.

cebiginalaska

This is a very important question and I'm glad that you asked it! BMI (body mass index) is a calculation of your height relative to your weight. Your BMI is 28.3, which puts you in the overweight category. A BMI of greater than 30 is considered obese; 25-29.9 is considered overweight; 18.5-24.9 is normal; and less than 18.5 is underweight. BMI is a reliable indicator of body fat, too much of which may increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and numerous other diseases. But BMI does have some limitations when it comes to weight and disease risk assessment. In a very large-framed or muscular person like you, BMI may overestimate body fat. Conversely, BMI may underestimate body fat in a very small-framed person, someone who has very little muscle mass, or a person who carries his or her excess weight mainly around the midsection and has very thin arms and legs (the so called apple shaped body type).

Since there is no adjustment factor for BMI relative to muscle mass and body frame, many experts recommend also measuring waist circumference and often consider other weight-related risk factors including high cholesterol, high blood sugar, family history, smoking and inactivity when assessing risk of obesity-related disease. If you have two or more of the above risk factors, or if your waist is greater than 40 inches (for women, greater than 35 inches), that puts you at higher risk for obesity-related diseases, especially heart disease and diabetes. At 165 pounds, you would most likely benefit from losing just 10 percent of your body weight (about 16.5 pounds), rather than aiming for 135 pounds, which may be unrealistic for your body type. Losing 10 percent of your weight, staying physically active, not smoking and eating a healthy diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables will go a long way toward keeping you healthy, regardless of where you fall in the BMI chart.

source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/expert.q.a/08/07/bmi.muscular.people.jampolis/

SLLRunner

That's one thing I don't like about doctors, they go by the numbers on the scale, or some other number. Your sweetheart looks very healthy to me. In fact, he's got mega muscle.

Duck_Puddle

BMI is strictly a ratio of height and weight. His BMI is 32. Something-which puts him in the "obese" range. Morbidly obese is generally classed as BMI over 40. And yes, it's well known that people with high amounts of lean body mass will fall into overweight/obese ranges on the BMI scale. The vast, vast, vast majority of the population that is 5'10" and weighs 225 will indeed be obese. He is obviously not. BMI should not be the end all and be all of measuring health, but for the vast majority of the population, it's probably a relatively fair guide. Those at either end of the bell curve will be mis measured by this single metric.

cebiginalaska

that is an answer who asked a question I just posted the whole answer... :laugh:
his question "I have a natural extensive amount of muscle mass on all parts of my body plus a broad build, but my height is just 5 feet 4. When I do a BMI calculation having to enter my weight and height, my suggested weight should be around 135 to get a decent reading. I weigh in around 165, and I do need to lose a bit, but not a lot in the belly area. I am 44 years old and was just wondering if the BMI can be adjusted for people with a muscular build with broad shoulders?"

Ejourneys

If you want to educate the doctor, first I would invest in bodyfat calipers, which cost about $20. I got mine at AccuMeasure:
http://www.accumeasurefitness.com/

You can use that measurement to figure out ideal weight. This formula comes from Sandra Rosenzweig's Sportfitness for Women (Harper & Row, 1982):

1. Get weight of fat = total body weight times fat percentage.
2. Get lean body weight = total body weight minus current fat weight.
3. Get ideal fat weight = desired fat percentage divided by current fat percentage times current weight of fat.
4. Ideal body weight = lean body weight plus ideal fat weight.

If the doc still says your guy is morbidly obese, I would invest in a new doctor. :-)

MrGonzo05

I had a company wellness screening where I was told I was overweight. I said "thank you." LOL

somerisagirlsname

His doctor needs to see an eye-doctor.

nz_deevaa

I still have 20kg left to lose, so I'm still very much overweight.

This is how morbidly obese looks on me:



(Sorry, I couldn't find the version of this photo without the text!)

bellesouth18

If that's morbidly obese, then I'm totally screwed and will never in a million years get in a healthy range. Did the doctor see him without his shirt on? I mean, really...

willdob3

I'm assuming his doctor is not blind, in which case his doctor is a fool.

cafeaulait7

He definitely needs a new doctor unless the doc was kidding about it being an ironic thing. I'm not kidding. A doctor who follows only numbers to that kind of crazy extent could kill a person.

brower47

I still have 20kg left to lose, so I'm still very much overweight.

This is how morbidly obese looks on me:



(Sorry, I couldn't find the version of this photo without the text!)

You're awesome.

ferrytrip

If he's morbidly obese... Well I should already be dead, we'll leave it at that.

Never a truer word was said. My goal is 200 lbs, when I reach it I will still be obese.
My ideal BMI is 155lbs!

zorbaru

i hope to be morbidly obese too

jennpaulson

He's been lifting for a very long time. He was never a skinny guy. Even when we were in high school he was a stockier/solid built guy, but never, ever overweight. I think that's why it bothers him. Me, I've been fat and I know doctors and thier charts are crap. I'm a 5' 2" girl with ginormous boobs. Their chart says the HIGHEST I should weigh is 135 but ideally 115. Right now I weigh about 152, the lowest I've ever been as an adult was 117 when I was 4 months pregnant with my daughter (go figure) and I looked like a stick with boobs, like if the wind blew too hard I might fall over. I'm not meant to weigh only 115 lbs. 145 is my first goal, but I'm thinking 130 is the lowest I will go.
I was just curious if with other guys who were built similar to him with a similar lifestyle (lifting and healthy eating for a long time now) have been told the same thing. I personally agree that he needs a new doctor.

Milica986

Doctor should go back to school again, not to college, but to second grade of high school..... then all over again.
Or think about some other career. I can't believe he said that!

BrainyBurro

BMI is a population metric.

trying to apply it to individuals can be problematic. this is an example where it is so.

rml_16

I take it the doctor didn't actually look at him.

UsedToBeHusky

Very nice! :bigsmile:

Yeah, tell him his doctor is an idiot and find a new one!

AlsDonkBoxSquat

That' one of the reasons BMI is BS.

Cae_Troi

The doctor probably calculated his BMI, which takes in account your age, gender, height, and weight. It does not calculate how much muscle you have. The only way you can lower your BMI is by losing weight. I have the same problem as I'm currently at a school that I have to pass a BMI test, but because I have muscle I fail it by a couple points. It's the problem of the BMI and relying on the BMI.

taunto

I believe (don't quote me on this) but ACG was told that he's morbidly obese and he's very fit member of MFP too. He simply lifted his shirt and showed doc his 6 pack and said "does this look morbidly obese to you?". The problem is that most doc offices focuses only on BMI which is an extremely flawed health measuring system. Even more if you workout.

Don't worry about it and next time, use body fat % for measuring your health.

Snow3y

his doctor should be shot and laughed at.

FaitheSoler

Sounds to me like he needs a real doctor.. That one is a wacko !!!!!!!!! Why do doctors even do BMI on someone that is fit and does not need to lose weight..

ktsmom430

We were just discussing this at work. We have a health screening at work on the 30th. One person passed the BMI part of it last year everyone else was considered overweight or obese. It is clearly not an accurate measurement.

The insurance companies use this as a way to increase our co-pays and premiums.

RhonndaJ

If that's morbidly obese, then I'm totally screwed and will never in a million years get in a healthy range. Did the doctor see him without his shirt on? I mean, really...

dittos this