BMI--- A Good Measuring Tool??

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SLBA
SLBA Posts: 2
in Food and Nutrition
So I looked up what my "ideal" BMI should be. I'm 5'9 so it's 165 lbs. I haven't been that skinny since junior high. At my "adult" smallest, I was 180. I was 19 and had collar bones popping and hips protruding. I was told by some I looked TOO skinny. But my BMI said I was still "overweight." According to that stupid mathematical formula, I will NEVER be what I should be. I have plateaued in my weight loss and am even more frustrated seeing the BMI scale. Any thoughts on it's accuracy or it's overall use for "healthy" living??

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  • barbiex3
    barbiex3 Posts: 1,036 Member
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    weird. it works for me. im 5'7" and the lowest I can go is 118 highest is 159
    i think it depends on everything. I have an extremely small frame, but I don't think I could get down to 118 and be healthy. I believe I was overweight before 158, so who knows!!
    not accurate, but it can be used as a guideline by some!
  • vsyates
    vsyates Posts: 373 Member
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    I don't really know what to think. I'm 5'5" -- my 'normal' weight range is 150-111. I could never weigh 111 but my goal is 130 which is mid-range and definitely doable for me.
  • Pie319
    Pie319 Posts: 129 Member
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    It doesn't take into account your frame or muscle mass. Many people who are very muscular are considered overweight on the BMI even though their actual body fat % is healthy.
  • natskedat
    natskedat Posts: 570 Member
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    I'm 5'6" and I weigh around 138. There are a few groups for whom the BMI is not a good indicator of health, namely body builders, weight/power lifters, and a many groups of professional athletes.

    However, it is a good general indicator of health for most people. Too many people throw the baby out with the bathwater.
  • natskedat
    natskedat Posts: 570 Member
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    It doesn't take into account your frame or muscle mass. Many people who are very muscular are considered overweight on the BMI even though their actual body fat % is healthy.

    The BMI does take different body types into account because of the large range of "healthy".
  • zornig
    zornig Posts: 336 Member
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    BMI is notoriously problematic (read this article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14483512/ns/health-fitness/t/bye-bye-bmi-tape-may-measure-obesity-better/). Just going by the BMI charts, professional athletes are obese! This is because it does not consider frame size, or body composition (% body fat, % lean mass). There is a better way to determine your ideal weight based on desired % bodyfat. Try using this calculator instead: http://www.cordianet.com/calculator.htm (although it requires that you know at least approximately what your current % body fat is, and what % body fat you'd like to be).

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