BMI

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bahrainbel
bahrainbel Posts: 194
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Do you actually believe this? I just calculated mine, apparently, I am in the healthy BMI range, I think this is a moronic suggestion. I can tell by looking at myself I am overweight, just now.

What do you think? I am sceptical about a generic formula, being applicable to everyone.

Replies

  • tracyL88
    tracyL88 Posts: 27
    i think its just another way to make overweight people feel insecure and another way to make everyone just the same i will never go by it
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,297 Member
    BMI was not designed to compare individuals to, it was designed to compare groups of populations with other groups or future groups. The medical profession (family doctors, GP's) and the general public started using it the way we do now to see where we fit on the scale, but this was never the intended use. So BMI the way it was intended to be used is a great tool looking at social epidemics and changes through time, comparing areas of the world etc. But the way we use BMI, where we individually fit in the scale is wrong and should not be used, as like you said someone in the healthy range may actually be over weight (high Body fat %) whereas someone may be considered overweight that as a very low body fat % (body builder).

    BMI good to compare country to country, town to town, but bad to compare where individuals reside within the scale.
  • bahrainbel
    bahrainbel Posts: 194
    Ah good, I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks it's garbage :)
  • Adsnwfld
    Adsnwfld Posts: 262 Member
    It is a range for a reason, above or below the range and you run a greater risk for health problems. It isn't perfect. For me their is a 50 lb range I can work with. Their is no way that the lower end of that scale is something I would want. I'm currently shooting for the top of the scale and we'll see once I get there.
  • sandylouwho
    sandylouwho Posts: 31
    I think BMI is a good general guideline, but I agree with you that it is doesn't have enough flexibility to take into account everyone's overall body type. I've always had the opposite problem as you - as a tall, widely-built woman, I've always been high on the BMI scale even at those times when I have been in good shape and not at all overweight.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,297 Member
    It is a range for a reason, above or below the range and you run a greater risk for health problems. It isn't perfect. For me their is a 50 lb range I can work with. Their is no way that the lower end of that scale is something I would want. I'm currently shooting for the top of the scale and we'll see once I get there.

    It is not designed to see where you or others fit.
  • happy_vegan
    happy_vegan Posts: 200 Member
    i know, i disagree with it too. i'm at the top end of the bmi right now and i look it... 24.5. but i think all it's saying is you probably won't have serious health risks at this weight, like diabetes or heart attack risk. anything about 25 then you start to get into that territory.

    there have been numerous posts about how it's stupid in the reverse direction as well since you can have bulk muscle mass and end up with the same number i have, while clearly being more healthy.

    i'm trying to care more about body fat %, since that takes into account weight AND size. i'm using bmi as a general health risk indicator.
  • edorice
    edorice Posts: 4,519 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/171727-seriously?page=1#posts-2290568
  • LeeKetty1176
    LeeKetty1176 Posts: 881 Member
    Its not the best thing. All bodies are different so coming up with a "one size fits all" must be impossible !!

    for me, I think its about right, and I find it a useful thing / measure, but that will not be the same for all.

    Some people measure just the weight, or measure inches lost.... guess its finding the right thing for you.
  • Jenn1254
    Jenn1254 Posts: 49 Member
    BMI is just a guideline. Obviously it won't work for everyone because body types vary so greatly. That's why there are so many other tests to measure health and fitness. Take me for example, my BMI is currently obese but my body fat percentage is 25% which is in the acceptable range (25 - 31%). Even at my goal weight, my BMI will still be overweight but I will be a the minimum for essential body fat percentage (10 - 12%). In my personal opinion, the BMI scale should be done away with.
  • Nich0le
    Nich0le Posts: 2,906 Member
    Funny, we were just looking at one last night and talking to the kids about how it does not account for people who are in great shape but heavy, like previously said body builders. We told them it was one of many "tools" but not gospel.

    And before anyone gets upset over the fact that we brought it up to our kids, the schools are starting to incorporate more and more healthy weight tools, as a matter of fact in 8th grade here they are required to keep a food journal for a semester and a workout log for another semester with goals they are trying to reach and a plan on how to reach those goals. I, for one, think this is great since so many adults are having trouble with this hopefully this next generation will be a healthier one.
  • karensoxfan
    karensoxfan Posts: 902 Member
    someone in the healthy range may actually be over weight (high Body fat %) whereas someone may be considered overweight that as a very low body fat % (body builder).

    I agree it's not a perfect indicator of whether someone's underweight, healthy weight, overweight or obese, but generally it's a good guideline for *most* people. I think insurance companies might also use it as one of their factors in life insurance pricing though. I know I had to have my height & weight measured when I bought my policy.

    I know my "healthy" BMI range is about 30 lb. I'm 5'5" tall, and a healthy BMI puts me anywhere from 120-150 lb., which is about right for me.
  • scagneti
    scagneti Posts: 707 Member
    Do you actually believe this? I just calculated mine, apparently, I am in the healthy BMI range, I think this is a moronic suggestion. I can tell by looking at myself I am overweight, just now.

    What do you think? I am sceptical about a generic formula, being applicable to everyone.

    It looks like we're both 144, and I'm not sure what your height is, but I'm 5'5" and I don't consider myself overweight and I'd guess that if I asked 100 people if I were overweight with a 30" waist, only a very small percentage of people would think yes. I just got into the "normal" range a within the last couple of weeks (I think 150 is the cut off for my height) and while I agree that it's a generic formula, I think that you might have an unrealistic view as to what "normal" and "overweight" are.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,297 Member
    BMI is just a guideline. Obviously it won't work for everyone because body types vary so greatly. That's why there are so many other tests to measure health and fitness. Take me for example, my BMI is currently obese but my body fat percentage is 25% which is in the acceptable range (25 - 31%). Even at my goal weight, my BMI will still be overweight but I will be a the minimum for essential body fat percentage (10 - 12%). In my personal opinion, the BMI scale should be done away with.

    BMI is not a guideline, it is a tool for statisticians to analyze populations and weigh related health issues, that's it. It should not even be used by individuals. So ignore it completely.
  • karensoxfan
    karensoxfan Posts: 902 Member

    BMI is not a guideline, it is a tool for statisticians to analyze populations and weigh related health issues, that's it. It should not even be used by individuals. So ignore it completely.

    To each their own, I think. What's the harm in someone using it as an additional tool for tracking their progress (or reducing their life insurance premium)? It's certainly easier to track than body fat %, which is another good tool, but less convenient to measure.
  • bahrainbel
    bahrainbel Posts: 194
    Do you actually believe this? I just calculated mine, apparently, I am in the healthy BMI range, I think this is a moronic suggestion. I can tell by looking at myself I am overweight, just now.

    What do you think? I am sceptical about a generic formula, being applicable to everyone.

    It looks like we're both 144, and I'm not sure what your height is, but I'm 5'5" and I don't consider myself overweight and I'd guess that if I asked 100 people if I were overweight with a 30" waist, only a very small percentage of people would think yes. I just got into the "normal" range a within the last couple of weeks (I think 150 is the cut off for my height) and while I agree that it's a generic formula, I think that you might have an unrealistic view as to what "normal" and "overweight" are.

    I don't think I do, well I hope I don't :)
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,297 Member

    BMI is not a guideline, it is a tool for statisticians to analyze populations and weigh related health issues, that's it. It should not even be used by individuals. So ignore it completely.

    To each their own, I think. What's the harm in someone using it as an additional tool for tracking their progress (or reducing their life insurance premium)? It's certainly easier to track than body fat %, which is another good tool, but less convenient to measure.

    Because the BMI scale was not designed to evaluate individuals, and I'm sure if you want to fight the insurance companies you would win that argument (provided you have deep pockets for high priced lawyers). The ease is why people use it but it is being used wrong. Just because something is easy doesn't mean it is right. Fast food is easy, but is it good to eat?
  • scagneti
    scagneti Posts: 707 Member
    BMI is just a guideline. Obviously it won't work for everyone because body types vary so greatly. That's why there are so many other tests to measure health and fitness. Take me for example, my BMI is currently obese but my body fat percentage is 25% which is in the acceptable range (25 - 31%). Even at my goal weight, my BMI will still be overweight but I will be a the minimum for essential body fat percentage (10 - 12%). In my personal opinion, the BMI scale should be done away with.

    BMI is not a guideline, it is a tool for statisticians to analyze populations and weigh related health issues, that's it. It should not even be used by individuals. So ignore it completely.

    Honestly though -- what percent of people do you think that it's unsuitable for? The majority of people in the 200+ range that BMI says are obese or severely overweight are NOT body builders. That is the exception, not the rule. For every rule, there are exceptions, but that doesn't mean that it's incorrect for the majority.

    In fact, should we do away with body fat % because one of the measurements is chest size. So skinny girls with big fake boobs would get a much higher fat % than they actually have. So for that should those calculators all be considered incorrect?

    BMI is one of the first things that actually made me realize that at 170+ lbs, I was overweight. I always thought that it was because of my big strong legs, so I made lots of excuses, but the fact that I've dropped over 30lbs and still have my big strong legs tells me that that was fat that I needed to lose.
  • ecp2698
    ecp2698 Posts: 267 Member
    My husband struggles with wanting to be in a healthy BMI range, but I don’t think he should be... For his height, his target weight range is 129 to 175lbs to be considered “healthy.” He weighed 250, currently weighs 190lbs and if he ever were to get down to 175 he would look emaciated. He has a large frame, naturally lot of muscle and heavy bones, so I tell him he should not fixate on it.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,297 Member
    BMI is just a guideline. Obviously it won't work for everyone because body types vary so greatly. That's why there are so many other tests to measure health and fitness. Take me for example, my BMI is currently obese but my body fat percentage is 25% which is in the acceptable range (25 - 31%). Even at my goal weight, my BMI will still be overweight but I will be a the minimum for essential body fat percentage (10 - 12%). In my personal opinion, the BMI scale should be done away with.

    BMI is not a guideline, it is a tool for statisticians to analyze populations and weigh related health issues, that's it. It should not even be used by individuals. So ignore it completely.

    Honestly though -- what percent of people do you think that it's unsuitable for? The majority of people in the 200+ range that BMI says are obese or severely overweight are NOT body builders. That is the exception, not the rule. For every rule, there are exceptions, but that doesn't mean that it's incorrect for the majority.

    In fact, should we do away with body fat % because one of the measurements is chest size. So skinny girls with big fake boobs would get a much higher fat % than they actually have. So for that should those calculators all be considered incorrect?

    BMI is one of the first things that actually made me realize that at 170+ lbs, I was overweight. I always thought that it was because of my big strong legs, so I made lots of excuses, but the fact that I've dropped over 30lbs and still have my big strong legs tells me that that was fat that I needed to lose.

    Actually if you do body fat measuring correctly it has nothing to do with measurements, so chest size would be irrelevant, except in the case of larger breasted women that have very little fat, as they may have a high body fat % because breasts are mainly made up of fatty tissue. Hydrostatic Testing (Underwater Weighing) is the way BF% should be measured as it is by far the most accurate followed by the caliper tests, then other methods would be a distant 3rd.
  • mikeyml
    mikeyml Posts: 568 Member
    BMI is garbage in my opinion. Any type of body measurement formula that doesn't distinguish between a man and a woman is fundamentally flawed. I have no problems using myself as an example to demonstrate. I'm a 5' 11.5" tall male with a very large frame. The healthy weight range for me is 132.7 lbs - 179.3 lbs. My lowest weight in my life was 176 and everyone told me I looked sickly. There is no way I could ever get to the middle of that range and when I reach my goal weigh of 195 I will still be considered overweight. Some men might look perfectly fine at 155 pounds and 6' fall but those men have very small frames. With my frame I need to stay around 185-200 in order to look healthy.
  • strandedeyes
    strandedeyes Posts: 392 Member
    I am not for or against using BMI as a "guideline" or "tool" towards what I should weigh, but I do consider it when it comes to my goals because sadly, its something health insurances use as well as a guideline. Perhaps not the best, but I would not like to pay more health insurance than I already do (since I don't get it through work at the moment) because my BMI isn't what the chart says it should be.
  • LeeKetty1176
    LeeKetty1176 Posts: 881 Member
    I am not for or against using BMI as a "guideline" or "tool" towards what I should weigh, but I do consider it when it comes to my goals because sadly, its something health insurances use as well as a guideline. Perhaps not the best, but I would not like to pay more health insurance than I already do (since I don't get it through work at the moment) because my BMI isn't what the chart says it should be.


    **** thats rough !:sad:
  • karensoxfan
    karensoxfan Posts: 902 Member
    Because the BMI scale was not designed to evaluate individuals, and I'm sure if you want to fight the insurance companies you would win that argument (provided you have deep pockets for high priced lawyers). The ease is why people use it but it is being used wrong. Just because something is easy doesn't mean it is right. Fast food is easy, but is it good to eat?

    I never said it was right because it's easy. I agree that it's an imperfect measure of whether a person is healthy weight or not. I just think that for most people, with their Dr.'s input and advice, it's harmless to track their own BMI for personal knowledge and goal-setting.

    Like I said though, to each their own. If you don't want to use it, don't. But I think it's a bit presumptuous to tell a board full of people trying to lose weight to ignore it too.
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