We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Does the BMI need fixing?

sohmui
sohmui Posts: 108 Member
edited January 11 in Health and Weight Loss
Article on BBC website today:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21229387

Replies

  • leejusd
    leejusd Posts: 81
    Yes. Being 6'6", I have always had an issue with what the BMI chart said about me. Plus with out knowing the difference between fat and muscle.
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
    I'm healthy but not within the healthy weight range. I just go by BF% instead.
  • jmc0806
    jmc0806 Posts: 1,444 Member
    Definitely
  • trudijoy
    trudijoy Posts: 1,685 Member
    BMI in general needs scrapping. It's a complete and total crock.
  • RoadsterGirlie
    RoadsterGirlie Posts: 1,195 Member
    My BMI went from 18.46 to 18.13.

    Officially underweight!

    LOL
  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    According to the new way, my BMI went up from 18.29 to 18.95, because it took into account that at my height I am healthy at a lower weight. I guess with this new way, people would not consider me underweight (my doctor already does not consider me to be underweight). So, it worked for me (as a short, small person). Although with the new way, I would not want to get below what I am at and down to the new 18.5 because that would be too low for me. According to this new way I would still not be underweight if my BMI was 18 according to the current system, and I already knew that. But, I understand what it means about scaling. That's why I am healthy at a lower weight because I am not just shorter, but everything is scaled down to a smaller size. I think it's a good article. And I will refer back to it in the future. But, I can see why it would still not work for other people. It assumes that all short people have a small frame and all tall people have a large frame. Taking frame size into account is a good idea, but there would need to a be more accurate way of doing that. And this new way still does not take other factors (not related to height and bone size) into account. And instead of changing the system, they could just expand the acceptable range on both ends of the scale. It used to be set at 18 and above being healthy weight.
  • Crankstr
    Crankstr Posts: 3,958 Member
    BAH for BMI

    it puts me in overweight.
  • kendrafallon
    kendrafallon Posts: 1,030 Member
    Juuuust read it, I was obese before and still obese now *shrug* and working on it
This discussion has been closed.

Categories