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BMI STILL OVERWEIGHT? SERIOUSLY?

JennBennett410
JennBennett410 Posts: 229
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Ok, so at 35 and a half I am in the best shapre of my life. I run 5 times a week, I eat much better than I have in years and I am wearing a size 6! However, I did my BMI today (according to webmd) and I am still overweight. My bmi is 25.29. I know I still have a belly,but my weight I believe is higher then other women at my size because I have muscle mass.
Anyone have any tips? Advice? Suggestions on this? I am thinking of maybe going to my doctor for a physical and see what they say. I am so annoyed an disgusted right now. Stupid BMI!

Replies

  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
    BMI was never meant to be used as an individual measurement. The doctor who developed it, developed it as a macro measurement of large populations and accounts for averages. Don't put to much stock in BMI.

    If you want to get more information on your body composition, have a body fat % test done. And don't use the Bio-electrical impedance scales, they have a huge margin for error.

    If you can, have a Bod Pod or hydrostatic test done (or better yet a DEXA test, although these are usually super expensive), or at the least a skin caliper test done with an experienced professional at a gym.
  • Krizzle4Rizzle
    Krizzle4Rizzle Posts: 2,704 Member
    I agree with SHBoss1673. Did you know according to BMI Tom Cruise is considered obese? I mean, I consider him a little nutty, but obese, certainly not. I think we need to throw BMI out the window.
  • thoward74
    thoward74 Posts: 15 Member
    Yup, I have a similar issue too. I work out 4x's (sometimes 5x's) a week, wear a size 6, and don't really look like I need to lose more (except for that pesky upper ab area...) yes to be in the "normal" range for weight I need to lose almost 15 more lbs. Seriously? I'm having a hard time finding the balance between the two. :ohwell:
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
    Yea don't get too worked up- my brothers are all athletic and they've been "overweight" for years. One of them has like no bady fat (well he has some but he plays 2 college sports so he's a workout fiend) and he's actually in the obese category - his doctor laughs at that all the time.

    If you are well toned, forget about BMI, ^^^he's right, get a body fat % test it will be a much better guage of where you are.
  • binary_jester
    binary_jester Posts: 3,311 Member
    I just went in for a annual physical and my doctor told me given my frame size, if I was actually my "ideal" BMI, he would be worried about my health.
  • clahut
    clahut Posts: 211 Member
    Ok, so at 35 and a half I am in the best shapre of my life. I run 5 times a week, I eat much better than I have in years and I am wearing a size 6! However, I did my BMI today (according to webmd) and I am still overweight. My bmi is 25.29. I know I still have a belly,but my weight I believe is higher then other women at my size because I have muscle mass.
    Anyone have any tips? Advice? Suggestions on this? I am thinking of maybe going to my doctor for a physical and see what they say. I am so annoyed an disgusted right now. Stupid BMI!

    The problem with BMI is that it doesn't distinguish between fat and muscle - it is a simple height to weight calculation. I agree with the person who says to get your body fat measured as you would probably find that it is within normal levels.
  • ProTFitness
    ProTFitness Posts: 1,379 Member
    DONT GO BY BMI GO BY MEASUREMENTS AND BODY FAT!
  • emersoam
    emersoam Posts: 179
    The BEST advice...IGNORE BMI. It's a horribly flawed indication of health/fitness.
  • AnnaPixie
    AnnaPixie Posts: 7,439 Member
    I agree. I've never been within my BMI range even at my most slender. It's a totally flawed measure which doesn't consider many variables.

    Look in the mirror, far more accurate :bigsmile:
  • JennBennett410
    JennBennett410 Posts: 229
    Thanks guys. I am going to work on toning anyways. That scale means nothing to me, it is how I feel.
    THANKS AGAIN!
  • CMcBryer
    CMcBryer Posts: 139 Member
    Plain and simple: BMI is garbage. Fat percentage is a much better way to get a single measurement for fitness.
  • JDMPWR
    JDMPWR Posts: 1,863 Member
    BMI is a guideline nothing more. Knowing your fat percentage and mass percentage it will help you know if you need to add in some weight training. I noticed people that only do cardio have a tendency to lose some muscle mass which will make your bf/bm ratio higher. My best answer is to add some weight training into your workouts.
This discussion has been closed.

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