Is there a better guide for target weight than BMI

nichojanes

Is there a better guide than BMI to calculate what my target weight should be?

The reason I ask is that I am 6'7" and the bmi tables say that I should be somewhere between 180 & 220 lbs to be in the 'healthy' region, but when I got married I had lost weight down to about 220 and friends and family were concerned as I looked ill.

I have just bought some new scales that analyse body fat (26.5%), water content (55%) and bone mass (9.1%) and was wondering whether one of these would be a better way to set a target.

Also, what use is bone mass? The book that comes with the scales shows my bone mass to be higher than ALL the ranges, even high for a 20 year old. Does this mean I can genuinely say I'm not fat, just big boned :-)

JesterMFP

BMI is a fairly blunt tool and more appropriate for looking at populations than indivisuals. Body fat percentage would be a better way to set a target. I've heard that those scales aren't a very accurate way of calculating body fat percentage. I know mine aren't. If you can get an accurate body fat percentage, and you know what percentage you'd like to be, there is a calculator on fat2fitradio that works out what weight you should be: http://www.fat2fitradio.com/tools/ibw/ This site gives an overview of what people look like at different body fat percentages: http://www.leighpeele.com/body-fat-pictures-and-percentages

I'm aiming for a weight that will give me the body fat percentage I want, but I'm also looking at having a healthy waist measurement, as it's supposed to be a good health indicator. That's something you could look into as well if you like.

No clue about the bone mass question.

RayRay1500

I am 5'5 and mine says I can go as low as 107. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

yarwell

the height squared thing allows you to be pretty heavy and penalises short people. % fat may be a better guide, or "can you pinch an inch" of flab on your sides etc.

dlwyatt82

Absolutely, and everyone already has it in their home. It's called a mirror.

It does make it difficult to tell what your "goal weight" should be before you get there, but no one says your initial estimate has to be correct. When you're there, you'll know it.

ninerbuff

Is there a better guide than BMI to calculate what my target weight should be?

The reason I ask is that I am 6'7" and the bmi tables say that I should be somewhere between 180 & 220 lbs to be in the 'healthy' region, but when I got married I had lost weight down to about 220 and friends and family were concerned as I looked ill.

I have just bought some new scales that analyse body fat (26.5%), water content (55%) and bone mass (9.1%) and was wondering whether one of these would be a better way to set a target.

Also, what use is bone mass? The book that comes with the scales shows my bone mass to be higher than ALL the ranges, even high for a 20 year old. Does this mean I can genuinely say I'm not fat, just big boned :-)

Yes. Use body fat % as your healthy weight target. If you're between 15%-20% for a male you're normal.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
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Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Jynus

Ya, the mirror is FAR better measurement tool than BMI. BMI is useless..

MamaWannaRun

Absolutely, and everyone already has it in their home. It's called a mirror.

It does make it difficult to tell what your "goal weight" should be before you get there, but no one says your initial estimate has to be correct. When you're there, you'll know it.

AHHHH, my mirror LIES to me! I gained 50 pounds and still TOLD MYSELF I looked ok. I can't trust my mirror! I'm also interested in a tool!

- ok, so maybe it wasn't the mirror lying as much as I was lying to myself, but the point still stands. I'm not my best judge!

cordianet

Give this a try and see if it helps:
http://www.cordianet.com/calculator.htm