athletic BMI

gaston095
gaston095 Posts: 24
in Health and Weight Loss
I recently came to this...

"If your BMI is less than 20: This indicates a lean BMI, which means you have a low amount of body fat. This is desirable only if you are an athlete. If you are not an athlete, a lean BMI can indicate that your weight may be too low. This may lower your immunity. If your BMI and body weight are low, you should consider increasing your muscle mass with a good diet and exercise program. "

What? athletes don't get sick?

I mean, I don't know why a BMI less than 18.5 (or 20 in this case) is considered bad or unhealthy, athletes are 'allowed' to , where is the explanation?

Replies

  • asarwe
    asarwe Posts: 73 Member
    Probably because some sports make it hard to be normal weight. Such as long-distance running. However, I personally know very few adult athletes who are not normal weight according to BMI (even using the stricter 20 limit). Athletes tend to have lower BF% but more muscle (aka lean body mass), making them look really skinny but they are not underweight.

    My experience is the opposite: Many athletes are overweight according to BMI but have very little BF, rendering the measurement useless.

    And no, athletes actually do not get sick more often than other people. Rather the opposite due to a lot of training and monitored diets to maximise performance. Also, athletes are very wary of getting sick so they stay away from risk factors. If they do get sick it may be difficult, particularly for young athletes who are very skinny, to get well again.
  • RiannonC
    RiannonC Posts: 145 Member
    I've always heard 18.5 as the lower limit for healthy BMI anyway, so this doesn't sound like a very reputable site. Additionally, a BMI less than 20 doesn't automatically mean you have a low amount of body fat. And a low body fat percentage is not only desirable for athletes, it's desirable for everyone. Although I guess it depends on what you mean by "low."

    Basically, your body fat percentage matters more than your BMI, and ideal body fat percentage is very similar for athletes and for the rest of the population.
    I recently came to this...

    "If your BMI is less than 20: This indicates a lean BMI, which means you have a low amount of body fat. This is desirable only if you are an athlete. If you are not an athlete, a lean BMI can indicate that your weight may be too low. This may lower your immunity. If your BMI and body weight are low, you should consider increasing your muscle mass with a good diet and exercise program. "

    What? athletes don't get sick?

    I mean, I don't know why a BMI less than 18.5 (or 20 in this case) is considered bad or unhealthy, athletes are 'allowed' to , where is the explanation?
  • RoadsterGirlie
    RoadsterGirlie Posts: 1,195 Member
    This is complete BS. I have a BMI of 18.5, and I haven't been sick in well over a year. I have tons of energy and am healthy as an ox.

    I work out 5 days a week at an intense level for an hour. Not sure if that qualifies me as an athlete, but it does mean I'm in good shape.
  • asarwe
    asarwe Posts: 73 Member
    I've always heard 18.5 as the lower limit for healthy BMI anyway, so this doesn't sound like a very reputable site. Additionally, a BMI less than 20 doesn't automatically mean you have a low amount of body fat. And a low body fat percentage is not only desirable for athletes, it's desirable for everyone. Although I guess it depends on what you mean by "low."

    Basically, your body fat percentage matters more than your BMI, and ideal body fat percentage is very similar for athletes and for the rest of the population.

    And I have heard both. Actually more often 20 than 18.5. I have also heard that the 18.5 thing is to make fashion models have a healthy weight or something (probably not true, though). But I know every person I have ever met whose grasp on the subject I trust say that 18.5 is okay if you are young, but dangerous for elderly people. Also if you have some form of decreased immunity system you should not go below 20. But for "normal" people below say 55-60 years of age it really depends on genetics and such.

    I would personally look ill at such a low BMI, but my brother who is of the "tall and thin" persuation and is pretty muscled BMI 20 looks good. I believe you can see on a person wether they are underweight or not. It is a matter of body type. And the immunity thing really depends on how you got skinny. Training=good, not eating=bad.
  • gaston095
    gaston095 Posts: 24
    So any BMI below 20 is ok if you reach that by exercising, not dieting? I mean you replace fat mass for muscle?

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