BMI for African Americans/Blacks/Browns

stubbysticks

Using BMI as a measuring stick for fitness is ridiculous, whether you are comparing yourself against others in the same ethnic, national, linguistic or knitting group.

ETA: Jimmy the Greek would love this thread.

If I don't use BMI to compare myself to my fellow knitters, then how, pray tell, am I to continue feeling superior to them? Based on skill?

I agree that BMI calculations suck, it doesn't account for a lot of things, but honestly, I feel like a lot of women of color like to use our uniquely shaped/proportioned bodies as excuses to remain overweight and unhealthy. *Don't pull out your guns and pitch forks nah!* Yes, Black women are more curvy and volumptuous than other women but that line between healthy-curvy and unhealthy-curvy is very thin! I think that we need to find a way to maintain our culturally defined curves without sacrificing/neglecting our health. And yes, there are a lot of Black men who like thicker women but sadly, those are the same women who are suffering with hypertension, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, diabetes, heart problems, and a shortened lifespan. We need to stop being complacent with these socially acceptable standards for our health and well-being when they bear harmful and costly consequences.

~Tasha~

This touches on "fat acceptance," which I see more often than I care to in my own family. If they seemed to care about their health it wouldn't bother me so much.

Elizabeth, you're fine. You haven't crossed the line into "transparent" so I think you're good.

Elizabeth_C34

Elizabeth, you're fine. You haven't crossed the line into "transparent" so I think you're good.

That's because I live in Miami, so at least I appear more ivory than white like a sheet of paper...

susannamarie

By American Standards I am 2.3% overweight, I should be weighing around 155, which means I need 2 lose about 20 lbs...I weighed 174.2, BMI was 27.3, BP was 110/74, Total Cholesterol was 117, HDL 58, nonHDL 59, Glucose 73, my fat was 41.2%, I am suppose to be in a range of 21-33%, Fat Mass was 71.81, suppose 2 be 27.2-50.41 range & they said I shud eat 1565 to maintain my weight...EXCUSE ME, BUT WHERE IS THE AFRICAN AMERICAN/BLACK & BROWN FOLKS BODY MASS INDEX LOCATED??? Cuz the folks in the south say Im a HEALTHY weight & I think I nd 2 create anotha type of BMI!!!!!!!! I am heavy in the hips & thighs & I think I look good just like I am, these standards are so not realistic!!!! BMI 4 Blacks is a need, we are circumferenced different!!!!!

The BMI might vary, but 41% is still high. If you had the same BMI and a lower body fat you'd be fine. Dropping to 33% without losing muscle would put you right around 155. For what it's worth, my fat's somewhere in 28-29% and I still have plenty of hips/thighs.

izzydino

Had a similar conversion with the kids pediatrician. (kids are 1/4 black). Did you know there is a different growth chart for black kids then white. (actually there is one for asian, black, hispanic, and breast fed babies.)

shannashannabobana

I'm hippy, hit 13 and there it came.

BMI is only good for estimating over large populations, it's far from perfect for all the reasons already stated.

You could use the Waist to Hip ratio. I haven't heard anything about a racial component, but it is well known that weight carried in the hips is less unhealthy than weight carried in the waist. I think you want to be under .8.

Nataliaho

I do think there is a problem with fat acceptance and making excuses etc. However that is a separate issue to whether or not the BMI is an accurate or useful tool. Overweight people are capable of making intelligent assessments about such things, not everything is driven by our denial and shame. It would seem that most nutrition concious people on MFP are comfortable with the idea that government recommendations on macronutrients, for example, are wrong... why then couldn't the use of the BMI also be wrong?

victoria4321

I do think there is a problem with fat acceptance and making excuses etc. However that is a separate issue to whether or not the BMI is an accurate or useful tool. Overweight people are capable of making intelligent assessments about such things, not everything is driven by our denial and shame. It would seem that most nutrition concious people on MFP are comfortable with the idea that government recommendations on macronutrients, for example, are wrong... why then couldn't the use of the BMI also be wrong?

Its not BMI being wrong that's the problem I think. There is some grey area on the subject so its not an exact science, but as a general guideline it does work. A lot of people who say "BMI is wrong" are often very overfat. BMI can be wrong for competitive athletes and people who spend time putting on a lot of muscle. Just like it can also be wrong for someone who is slim but extremely sedentary but both of these examples are extremes. For the average person who gets some light physical activity (just day to day things like walking, cleaning, etc), its usually pretty accurate.

Nataliaho

I do think there is a problem with fat acceptance and making excuses etc. However that is a separate issue to whether or not the BMI is an accurate or useful tool. Overweight people are capable of making intelligent assessments about such things, not everything is driven by our denial and shame. It would seem that most nutrition concious people on MFP are comfortable with the idea that government recommendations on macronutrients, for example, are wrong... why then couldn't the use of the BMI also be wrong?

Its not BMI being wrong that's the problem I think. There is some grey area on the subject so its not an exact science, but as a general guideline it does work. A lot of people who say "BMI is wrong" are often very overfat. BMI can be wrong for competitive athletes and people who spend time putting on a lot of muscle. Just like it can also be wrong for someone who is slim but extremely sedentary but both of these examples are extremes. For the average person who gets some light physical activity (just day to day things like walking, cleaning, etc), its usually pretty accurate.

There is no such thing as an average person... that's the point. There are averages across large numbers of people... or there is an individual person. The BMI is wrong as a tool for individual diagnosis, it is right when used for what it is designed for.. ie making assessments across big groups of people. I don't know how anyone who has actually read any information about the history, purpose or usuage of the BMI can claim otherwise. I am confused as to why you think it is relevant, again, to say that people who do not like the use of the BMI in an innappropriate way are usually overweight? Again I say, even overweight people can make intelligent assessments about things you know.

victoria4321

There is no such thing as an average person... that's the point. There are averages across large numbers of people... or there is an individual person. The BMI is wrong as a tool for individual diagnosis, it is right when used for what it is designed for.. ie making assessments across big groups of people. I don't know how anyone who has actually read any information about the history, purpose or usuage of the BMI can claim otherwise. I am confused as to why you think it is relevant, again, to say that people who do not like the use of the BMI in an innappropriate way are usually overweight? Again I say, even overweight people can make intelligent assessments about things you know.

Not to be rude, but do you know what average means?

All these measurements, bmi, body fat, bmr, etc, are given in a range to account for differences between people. BMI is a tool, not the only tool. You're supposed to use a combination of tools to get a good estimate. That said, i still think its a pretty good tool.

I don't think everyone who doesn't like it is overweight, but I think the majority of people with a problem with it just so happen to be overweight. That's why it bothers them so much. If you're a few pounds overweight, then no biggie. People in this thread are telling a women with 41% body fat (not meaning to pick on the OP, but its the example at hand) that the BMI scales are useless. If she's over fat on more than one health scale are you going to just start saying they're all wrong? That's a little ridiculous.

rmchapman4

You are beautiful with your CURVES! Wear them with PRIDE!!

christinehetz80

[/quote]

I love skinny white boy calves, lol. Speaking of, one of my white friends was laughing at me because my legs are whiter than his, and I'm Latino.
[/quote]


hahah! I'm latina and I have white friends that say I'm from "iowa" since I'm pale and have no accent. That said I'm definitely hippy and understand the original OP frustration, but really it should be all about body fat percentage and that doesn't really matter what ethnic background one may have.

OH and I too love skinny white boy calves, and brown dudes calves, and black dudes calves...to be honest I'm just a leg girl. I love me some nice legs and really don't care what shade they come in!

rmchapman4

BMI absolutely has to do with race, for the mere fact that is averages race out. The index accounts for an "average" American, throwing out highs, lows, and racial/genetic tendencies. It is well documented that Black/Latino women thicker in the thighs, hips, butt, and waist. And they can weigh more than a White woman of similar heath characteristics and STILL be considered healthy.

it's te equivillent of YOU, a bottom thick black woman, stepping on a scale wearing ankle & wrist weights and a bottom thin white woman stepping on the same scale naked. You're weigh-in is skewed from the jump.

I say throw out BMI, and keep your vitals level with all that thickness!!!!

I totally agree. We are eating right to be healthy; not to get rid of our curves. You will be surprised how many men LOVE these curves (all types)

sisierra

I agree that BMI calculations suck, it doesn't account for a lot of things, but honestly, I feel like a lot of women of color like to use our uniquely shaped/proportioned bodies as excuses to remain overweight and unhealthy. *Don't pull out your guns and pitch forks nah!* Yes, Black women are more curvy and volumptuous than other women but that line between healthy-curvy and unhealthy-curvy is very thin! I think that we need to find a way to maintain our culturally defined curves without sacrificing/neglecting our health. And yes, there are a lot of Black men who like thicker women but sadly, those are the same women who are suffering with hypertension, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, diabetes, heart problems, and a shortened lifespan. We need to stop being complacent with these socially acceptable standards for our health and well-being when they bear harmful and costly consequences.

~Tasha~

I love this!!

jennkain97

lol you right its different in the south especially with black women...you do like pretty good I agree

BMI may or may not be different between races, but geographic location has nothing to do with it. How healthy you are has nothing to do with others' perceptions.

Nataliaho

There is no such thing as an average person... that's the point. There are averages across large numbers of people... or there is an individual person. The BMI is wrong as a tool for individual diagnosis, it is right when used for what it is designed for.. ie making assessments across big groups of people. I don't know how anyone who has actually read any information about the history, purpose or usuage of the BMI can claim otherwise. I am confused as to why you think it is relevant, again, to say that people who do not like the use of the BMI in an innappropriate way are usually overweight? Again I say, even overweight people can make intelligent assessments about things you know.

Not to be rude, but do you know what average means?

All these measurements, bmi, body fat, bmr, etc, are given in a range to account for differences between people. BMI is a tool, not the only tool. You're supposed to use a combination of tools to get a good estimate. That said, i still think its a pretty good tool.

I don't think everyone who doesn't like it is overweight, but I think the majority of people with a problem with it just so happen to be overweight. That's why it bothers them so much. If you're a few pounds overweight, then no biggie. People in this thread are telling a women with 41% body fat (not meaning to pick on the OP, but its the example at hand) that the BMI scales are useless. If she's over fat on more than one health scale are you going to just start saying they're all wrong? That's a little ridiculous.

Yep I'm pretty comfortable with the definition of average. Let me give you an example, say we were talking about average rainfall over a month period and we categorise a daily average of over 1 inch as "wet". Therefore if the month of May had an average daily rainfall of 1.1inch, it would be accurate to say that May was a "wet" month. However it is simply not accurate to then say that Tuesday the 2nd of May was a wet day just from that information. You could only make that assessment based on the data of that day alone.

The OP has provided us with data about her alone, ie her BF%, therefore the BMI is irrelevant. BF% and BMI are not equal tools in my eyes. One is accurate personal data and makes the other superfluous.

Also I don't think anyone was telling the OP that because the BMI is useless, that means she is not overweight.

I am also curious if you read the article I posted.

secretlobster

BMI is a dumb indicator of health... Body fat percentage is better

Even so, I think the amount of body fat that is considered "unhealthy" is generally exaggerated. Being slightly "overweight" is actually preferable to being slightly underweight in terms of health risk. The body was meant to carry some fat.

HipsBreastsandMore

I love this thread and the replies in it. According to my doctor, MY BMI is 42. I'm top heavy, small in the waist, but I still have a flabby stomach from 2 previous c-sections. I was told that in order to have my breast reduction surgery, I would have to lose 55 lbs. My breast weigh over 20 lbs alone. I've been exercising and trying to change up my meal plan.

My caloric intake according to my BMI is 1747. Okay if BMI is not a factor, maybe I am eating the wrong amount of calories. I need to know the amount of BF (Body Fat) do I actually have.

shannashannabobana

"The body was meant to carry some fat. "

Women in particular are meant to carry fat, and are genetically disposed to carry it in certain areas!

If you're happy with yourself asthetically, I say go with the health measures. BMI will give you a general idea where you fit, but you have to use you specific information to decide what weight is actually healthiest for you.

jadedone

There is also quite a bit of evidence that waist size is WAY more important than BMI for rating health and predicting the incidence of chronic diseases.

I found an article from yesterday about this but there have been many studies and articles in recent years: [http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/05/waist-size-signals-diabetes-risk/]

I have read several articles about this topic over the past couple of years. One agency thinks the magic waist number for women is actually 32 or 33. But they also found that for black women, that average was a little bit higher as well.
[http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/01/25/us-healthy-waist-idUSTRE70O4H320110125]

So I think healthy is different across ethnic groups. For Asians, a healthy BMI is actually lower than the current threshold since their bones are less dense than whites.

***I am a little skeptical of BMI for many reasons. But I'll have a new current theory about it. The stats of the average american woman are something like the following:
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 165 (which is around "30" pounds overweight per the mid-point of BMI for that height)
Clothing Size: 14 (which is roughly 43 in the hips)
Bra Size: 36DD (which is roughly 41 inches in the bust)
Waist size 37" according to the CDC

At this very moment, I am roughly much the same size as the average american woman, inches wise at 41-33-43.5. My waist is smaller -- in the so called "healthy" zone. (I am a little surprised the average waist size is so high actually). I weigh almost 45 pounds more than that "average" woman with my measurements. Isn't it safe to say, based on that, my healthy weight/measurements would be significantly higher than the average "white" american?

ElizabethRoad

By American Standards I am 2.3% overweight,

Because if Americans are known for one thing, it's for being too thin.