Are BMI's realistic

Doctor's (good ones) won't use BMI alone to determine obesity. There are a number of tests, including but not limited to, a test to gauge body fat % and of course an EKG test and/or heart endurance test. BMI alone is very dangerous, not only is muscle more DENSE than fat (it doesn't actually weigh more - it weighs the same, it's just that it takes up less space so can have more of it before it shows) but bones WEIGH more than anything. Thick bones = heavier bones = screwy BMI - as BMI is based off of an average body type.

If you look in the mirror and you're happy with what you see that's all you need in my opinion!

The numbers are great to help you set goals and achieve targets but ultimately its how you feel that matters.

It is my opinion that BMI's are not a very good judge of health.. as someone else mentioned, there are much better tests than a simple height by weight calculation. It does not take into consideration different body types or muscle mass. Everyone is different. Body's are built differently as well, which is why when we see 2 people of the same height and weight, they can look completely different. My goal weight has nothing to do with my bmi, it has more to do with the last time I felt good about myself. Once I get there, I can reevaluate where I want to be.

Funny, I was just having this exact same conversation with a coworker. Her hubby came home and said that they had some sort of "Health Fair" at work, and according to his BMI, he is Obese. However, if you look at him, he is built very big (tall, very wide shoulders, huge feet, et cetera) and he is very muscular. He could maybe stand to drop a few pounds of pudge over those muscles (like, he's not totally ripped, but you can still tell that there are serious muscles there), but I just can't believe that healthwise, he is actually obese.

I think that the BMI is a good starting tool to start looking at your weight and health, but it's definitely not the final say. The final say (in my book) is how you feel, how healthy you really are (blood pressure, cholesterol, cardiovascular health, et cetera) and how you look. If all of those things are where you want them to be, then in my book, I think you have done a great thing for yourself, no matter what the BMI calculators have to say about it.

If you look in the mirror and you're happy with what you see that's all you need in my opinion!

The numbers are great to help you set goals and achieve targets but ultimately its how you feel that matters.

Definitely this!!!

People also have different bone sizes. Bone adds lean body mass also. When I was skinny I still weighed a good 15 lbs more than the next guy my height. Take one hand and and wrap it around your wrist and see if you can touch your middle finger to your thumb. If they overlap then you're small framed. If they touch then you're average. If they don't touch than you're large framed. And if you're like me and 50% neanderthal, then there's no chance your finger will touch your thumb.

A child in England got sent home with a letter to his parents because the school nurse said his BMI put him as being overweight and that for his age, its not acceptable for a child to be overweight etc.
The child however, was incredibly active and not 'overweight in the slightest. Because of his activity level, his muscle density must have been quite high, which accounted for extra weight I guess.

Same. I went to my doctor and told him my weight and my weight loss goals. He asked me how much I want to get down to. I am 5'10 and I tend to be muscular. I said I would like my end goal to be 185-190 range, as at that range I am a size 8/10 and wear a medium shirt. But I said that I know that's overweight according to the BMI chart. He said "Screw that. You would be 150 to be in the healthy category of the BMI index and you would look malnourished at that weight. You have a bigger bone structure and 185 is very healthy and realistic for you." I'm built like a dude and carry excess weight in those places so Im happy about my doctors opinion!

Looks like we're in the same boat. I bet our ancestors were too when they were raiding nearby villiages :P

BMI should stand for BULLSH*T MORON INDEX.

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Personally I think the BMI charts are unrealistic and out of date. According to them I should way between 130 and a 170. I'm a 5'8" guy with a big frame. Graduated high school at 196lbs and I was ripped. I'm still fairly strong. My insurance didn't like the use of the chart, I had to go through physical measurements and everything to determine what my actual numbers were.

BMI chart says I should be around 165 or less
Doctor and Stress Test and Measurements say I should be around 185 - 195.

That is a 20lb+ difference. Sure wish they'd get around to putting more research, study, and fix to it.

Lol at the responses saying how useless BMI is because it doesn't hold true for every single person.

No **** it doesn't, it's a rough guideline for an average person and works quite well for that. It's not a rigid doctrine that you have to follow blindly, if you have reason to believe it doesn't apply to you then use some common sense and ignore it.

Saying it's useless because it doesn't work perfectly for everyone is one of the silliest statements I've read on here.