BMI Accuracy Questioned

sngnyrslp

This is a really interesting article discussing the flaws of measuring people's health based on their BMI:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/31/health/31brod.html?_r=2&ref=science

Alleghany

Thx!

jvbrooks

I think the accuracy of BMI has been suspect for awhile now -- it certainly has been in my mind. But this is definitely good reinforcement. Thanks for this.

fxst78

I once read an article explaining how the BMI came about. The Health Authority wanted a large range of people, all different ages, ethnic backgrounds and heights. To find this "Sample" they went to the dockyards. This was in the 1930s. Dock workers were mostly undernourished with little muscle mass, so the average person was not really a good indication. It is a good ball park, but body fat % will always be better. The Australian Army uses BMI as an indicator. My BMI is 31.5 this states that I am obese. Every year I have my medical and when my BMI is over 30 I have to go and see the doctor. He sees me, says I do need to lose a little bit of weight but I am by no means Obese. I am certainly overweight, but not obese. When my BMI is 25 (Top top of the healthy range) I look positively sick and the doctor tells me that I really need to put some weight on!
So, use it as a guide, but if you do a lot of exercise or have a high lean muscle mass it will not be accurate.
A friend of mine has a BMI of 30.5 so he is "obese" but he has a body fat % of 8. Muscles Galore!