Why I think The BMI scale is stupid: I am overweight

ldrosophila

I still think for the average population its a good index. There have only been a few times when a patient was overweight d/t muscle mass. However, a quick observation can rule out a patient who is not overweight/obese from adiposity. Most of the time I'd say 90% when a person's BMI says overweight he/she is overweight. It's still used by plenty of physicians and getting a consult for overweight BMI is not unheard of.

I still have an MD who thinks IBW is the gold standard :grumble:

jwdieter

Everyone should aim for BMI 28+. Because, NFL running backs.

Edit: For anyone who is interested in what female world champion athlete BMIs actually look like:

http://www.runnersworld.com/womens-running/bmis-of-champions-womens-edition

Most are "normal". Whoa crazytime.

susannamarie

Everyone should aim for BMI 28+. Because, NFL running backs.

Edit: For anyone who is interested in what female world champion athlete BMIs actually look like:

http://www.runnersworld.com/womens-running/bmis-of-champions-womens-edition

Most are "normal". Whoa crazytime.

Good one. I notice that the most underweight one has BMI 17.2. Probably very little upper-body, because racewalking. If I had the potential to be an olympic champion racewalker I might very well say 'stuff the upper-body muscle, it'll just slow me down'.

mumblemagic

Sorry to burst your bubble but you arent overweight. Not even with the BMI scale.

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/BMI/bmicalc.htm

At 5'3" and 140 lbs your bmi is 24.8.

Underweight = <18.5
Normal weight = 18.5–24.9
Overweight = 25–29.9
Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

Now I on the other hand am wayyyyy fatter than you. Mine is 28.7.

Good Day Maddam

I call BS on your 28% BF if that's you in the pic. That looks more like 15-17% to me.

I'm confused..I didn't think Body Fat and Body Mass Index were the same thing...he says his BMI is 28.7 not his body fat...am I wrong?

Nope - you're not wrong. The "It's BS" poster misunderstood

doughnutwretch

You are obviously in the minority. BMI isn't stupid, and for the general population it works. There's going to be outliers (like yourself), but overall it works.

Ignore it, go by BF% and don't make others think it isn't reasonable when the majority of the time it is.

I'm not very muscular, but started out with a 27 BMI, I knew at that point I was really overweight and knew I had to something about it. Now I'm 20.5 BMI and now aiming for 20. Most people will fall into the catagory - I know my BF, most of my friends and I do. It really depends on your body's make up.

Good for you showing off, but I doubt the validity of this topic. Sorry.

BinaryPulsar

Everyone should aim for BMI 28+. Because, NFL running backs.

Edit: For anyone who is interested in what female world champion athlete BMIs actually look like:

http://www.runnersworld.com/womens-running/bmis-of-champions-womens-edition

Most are "normal". Whoa crazytime.

Yeah, there are many athletes that have a low or "normal" BMI.

BinaryPulsar

Sorry to burst your bubble but you arent overweight. Not even with the BMI scale.

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/BMI/bmicalc.htm

At 5'3" and 140 lbs your bmi is 24.8.

Underweight = <18.5
Normal weight = 18.5–24.9
Overweight = 25–29.9
Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

Now I on the other hand am wayyyyy fatter than you. Mine is 28.7.

Good Day Maddam

I call BS on your 28% BF if that's you in the pic. That looks more like 15-17% to me.

I'm confused..I didn't think Body Fat and Body Mass Index were the same thing...he says his BMI is 28.7 not his body fat...am I wrong?

Nope - you're not wrong. The "It's BS" poster misunderstood

No. Body Fat Percent and Body Mass Index are two entirely different measurements. BF% measures body composition: usually divided into Lean Body Mass (which has it's own subdivisions) and Body Fat. BMI is just a calculation of height and total weight with no regard to composition (that's all). This is actually an important distinction to be aware of in weight loss and fitness. It's good to be aware of and there are lots of ways to gauge body fat percent, but it is extremely challenging to get a fully accurate measurement. And that is the reason it is not as mainstream as much as BMI is. BMI is extremely easy to measure. But doctors could probably be trained to take some measurements and to also inform the person that it's not going to be exact.

nurseybee

I believe the CDC even says that the BMI isn't for very athletic people. What it is good at is measuring degrees of obesity. A person with a BMI of 50 is more likely to have health problems than a person with a BMI of 30, for instance.

This is absolutely true. The CDC does say this. There are also medical journal articles discussing WHERE fat mostly sits in people. JAMA says that apple-shaped people (those with fat mostly in their mid-section) are mostly at risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, etc. Those with a pear shape (fat in butt/thighs, etc but not belly) are less at risk.

There are a lot of variables to consider in this topic. BMI, in general, is the quickest, easiest way for physicians to document someone's health, related to their body type. However, it's also easy for a physician to review a medical record, not remember the patient, and tell a specialist, nurse, etc that the patient is "overweight" or "obese." Body fat percentage is a nice way to do this, however a lot of patients won't even allow a physician to measure this. It's hard enough to get many people on a scale as it is.

I'm guessing if people are on this site, they're probably looking to either lose weight or maintain current weight (some are underweight trying to increase). Either way, we all have somewhat of a body image change in mind. We're all struggling, otherwise we would already be where we want to be and stop trying to validate ourselves through other opinions, myself included.

I'm overweight, too. I was obese, I lost my baby weight, and now I'm struggling not to gain it back. I'm an athlete. However, I am short. I'm 5 feet tall. If I gain 2 lbs my "category" changes from overweight to obese. I don't care what my BMI is. I care about how I look in the mirror, how my pants fit, and what my boyfriend thinks of me. That's it.

eldamiano

No need to be slightly confrontational. My point is that it's not the end all be all, and neither is the scale, it's important to use tools in perspective. Honestly the best guide is bodyfat%, while mine is probably 5% - 7% higher than I'd like it to be, I'm by no means unhealthy.

Also, while it's important to keep it in perspective, what do you think my insurance company will do with that information . . . after all they are judging me by simple metrics only and the doctor would put down that I am overweight. All of the information they gather regarding group metrics (including those who would rather pay the extra $500 per year instead of getting the annual physical discount) impacts the group rate my company pays, thereby impacting the rate I pay.

Again, while BMI is a tool, it's not the best available and should be used with hesitation.

In your opinion. You say this like it is fact.

I actually think BMI is fine. I used it to get down to size. My BMI is around 23.2 and I am about 2-3kg above my ideal weight but have the common sense to know that I dont need to lose more. That is all it takes.

jayladeyman

Thanks for this post, OP. I'm 5'2.5 and 130 pounds and I hate hate my body...but this made me feel better, considering I'm very muscular. I still have the urge to be tiny and cute and sometimes even frail is more beautiful to me than my thick skin..but I'm working on it.

ksuh999

BMI is garbage for the majority of people.And it has become a scam for insurance companies to get deeper into our pockets ...At 6'2" - 225lbs I am at the top end of overweight, and when I reach my goal,(235) I will,once again, be in the obese range, as I have been most of my adult life ......
<<<<< Do I look obese to you?? I think not .....

Dexa scan and accurate Caliper readings for BF%, the mirror, and actual measurements are much better than BMI for the majority of people.

NOBODY I know, measures out correctly using BMI, NOBODY ......Not 10%, not 25% even, NOBODY ......

My BF% is 15%. I also have about 10% more muscle mass compared to the average male.

I'm 5'10, 161 lbs = 23.1 BMI = Normal.

So now you know somebody that "measures out correctly".

JoRocka

I have a "large frame". Big shoulders, big hips, big head, feet, hands, etc. I also have a decent amount of lean body mass due to literally 15 years of lifting weights off and on (consistently for the last 2 years including a bulk phase). BMI still works for me. I am 5'9" and 160lbs. At my height a health BMI runs from 128lbs to 169lbs. At 169 I would be a little "overweight". At 128 I would probably be underweight (the lowest I've been as an adult is 145 but I didn't look "sick" or anything, I was still about 20% bodyfat) but that's why there is a range.

I'm 5'8" - just hopped on the scale for the first time since December- I'm tipping 178-180. :indifferent:

I look at myself and don't feel much in the way of distaste- I'm more well rounded out than I want to be- but bulking- fat gain is ineveitable.

BMI says I'm at 27.4 and unquestionably overweight (for 5'8" 27-29 apparently is the range for overweight)

HEH.

sure. okay.

ksuh999

I have a "large frame". Big shoulders, big hips, big head, feet, hands, etc. I also have a decent amount of lean body mass due to literally 15 years of lifting weights off and on (consistently for the last 2 years including a bulk phase). BMI still works for me. I am 5'9" and 160lbs. At my height a health BMI runs from 128lbs to 169lbs. At 169 I would be a little "overweight". At 128 I would probably be underweight (the lowest I've been as an adult is 145 but I didn't look "sick" or anything, I was still about 20% bodyfat) but that's why there is a range.

I'm 5'8" - just hopped on the scale for the first time since December- I'm tipping 178-180. :indifferent:

I look at myself and don't feel much in the way of distaste- I'm more well rounded out than I want to be- but bulking- fat gain is ineveitable.

BMI says I'm at 27.4 and unquestionably overweight (for 5'8" 27-29 apparently is the range for overweight)

HEH.

sure. okay.

Go find an InBody machine, get your BF% tested.

redheaddee

In because the comic book folks on my FL need to see the hot Lantern.

SuperSexyDork

BMI is intended to measure populations, not individuals. It is regularly misapplied in this way because it's cheaper than more-accurate assessments of body-composition and health. Ignore it. Or, alternatively, be reassured by recent studies which show repeatedly that people in the 'overweight' category, according to BMI, have better health and mortality outcomes, in many situations, than those of 'healthy' weight.

This exactly.

As for the OP, I'm considered "obese" right now. However, my bodyfat percentage is in the normal range and I've had 3 doctors (one of them a cardiologist) tell me to ignore BMI in my case because I'm "athletic" and have too much lean mass to weigh less than 160 lbs (supposedly the top healthy weight for 5'9")

wolverine66

In because the comic book folks on my FL need to see the hot Lantern.

Thank you. Totally worth it. :flowerforyou:

Onegirlarmy824

BMI is a sweeping generalisation almost to the point of stupidity.

In other news, you are slammin'!

I wish there was a like button on here! But THIS is so true!

Qarol

BMI is a tool. So are some people in this thread.

OP is a rockstar. :smooched:

mochakochalatte

I totally agree, I am some what muscular and the BMI scale has me at borderline overweight. I am a size 6/8.... Anywhoo you look amazing! Great job!

laurie04427

Just had to post to say you look awesome.