BMI did you know

jrlenig

"If your BMI is between 17 to 22, your life expectancy is longer than average"
"Women tend to believe they look their best at values between 20 to 22 and men are usually satisfied with a BMI of 23 to 25."
If your BMI is below 20:
This indicates a lean BMI, which means you have a low amount of body fat. If you are an athlete, this can be desirable. If you are not an athlete, a lean BMI can indicate that your weight may be too low which may lower your immunity. If your BMI and body weight are low, you should consider gaining weight through good diet and exercise habits, to increase your muscle mass.

"If your BMI is between 20 and 22:
This indicates the ideal, healthy amount of body fat, which is associated with living longest, and the lowest incidence of serious illness. Coincidentally, it seems this ratio is what many individuals perceive to be the most aesthetically attractive.

If your BMI is between 22 and 25:
This is still considered an acceptable range, and is associated with good health.

If your BMI is between 25 and 30:
You are considered “Hefty” and should finds ways to lower your weight, through diet and exercise. You are at increased risk for a variety of illnesses at your present weight. You should lose weight by changing your diet and exercising more.

If your BMI is over 30:
This indicates an unhealthy condition, your excess “Prosperity” is putting you at risk for heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, gall bladder disease and some cancers. You should lose weight by changing your diet and exercising more."

Another great way to determine your fitness is waist to hip ratio

http://www.weight-loss-center.net/bmi_calculator.html#hipwaistratio

jrlenig

my hip to waist ratio is exactly .72! would like to be healthier than that! Guess that is why I still am focused everyday!

erickirb

BMI is not meant for use by individuals it is to compare groups of populations. So I would not say if your BMI is..., you could say in general those with a BMI of ... as this would be more accurate of the way BMI is intended to be used. Someone could be in the overweight category of BMI and have a lower BF% than someone with a BMI of 19, this is why it does not work for individuals.

It is much better when looking at group A vs group B as outliers would be averaged out and the tool is much more useful, don't get into the trap of comparing yourself to the BMI chart.

jrlenig

BMI is not meant for use by individuals it is to compare groups of populations. So I would not say if your BMI is..., you could say in general those with a BMI of ... as this would be more accurate of the way BMI is intended to be used. Someone could be in the overweight category of BMI and have a lower BF% than someone with a BMI of 19, this is why it does not work for individuals.

It is much better when looking at group A vs group B as outliers would be averaged out and the tool is much more useful, don't get into the trap of comparing yourself to the BMI chart.

I would rather use my BMI to calculate my health, most of the at home methods of calculating fat are incorrect and most of the population can not afford an actual BF test. I also use the way i feel and my energy level to determine my health, I am as they say in good health, but I would like to be in better health. And yes you can be a solid mass of muscle and according to the index be obese, but trust me when I say that doesn't happen often.

erickirb

BMI is not meant for use by individuals it is to compare groups of populations. So I would not say if your BMI is..., you could say in general those with a BMI of ... as this would be more accurate of the way BMI is intended to be used. Someone could be in the overweight category of BMI and have a lower BF% than someone with a BMI of 19, this is why it does not work for individuals.

It is much better when looking at group A vs group B as outliers would be averaged out and the tool is much more useful, don't get into the trap of comparing yourself to the BMI chart.

I would rather use my BMI to calculate my health, most of the at home methods of calculating fat are incorrect and most of the population can not afford an actual BF test. I also use the way i feel and my energy level to determine my health, I am as they say in good health, but I would like to be in better health. And yes you can be a solid mass of muscle and according to the index be obese, but trust me when I say that doesn't happen often.

It happens quite often, I would guess that 90% of athletes would fall above the healthy line in the BMI. I was just pointing out that BMI was created to compare populations or groups, not individuals with where they fit in the scale. We as a population have been using BMI incorrectly for decades and I don't think it will change I was just pointing this out.

jrlenig

ok and .00005% of the population are athletes! For more information about BMI and hip to waist ratio check out this article
http://www.skegnessstandard.co.uk/news/health/behind-the-headlines/body_shape_still_important_to_heart_risk_1_2496104