I feel like my BMI is wrong

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Replies

  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    Wow.. I am not sure what to say to all the comments here..

    I will throw this off a bit... What if you have breast implants??????
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    There is no 'women's BMI' and 'men's BMI' because it's a wide range that just refers to humans in general.

    For the people who find it should never be applied to individuals-- What do you tell an underweight person here trying to lose more weight, to show them they don't need to? "You look too thin"?

    I think BMI is much more useful than the older measures-- insurance tables or someone's subjective opinion.
  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
    edited December 2014
    gia07 wrote: »
    Wow.. I am not sure what to say to all the comments here..

    I will throw this off a bit... What if you have breast implants??????
    Most implants are going to add 0.5-2 pounds each, and 2 pounds is on the Dolly Parton side. If you have reasonably-sized implants, they wouldn't weigh enough to measurably impact your BMI.

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    gia07 wrote: »
    Wow.. I am not sure what to say to all the comments here..

    I will throw this off a bit... What if you have breast implants??????

    Well, you would have to take that into account just like anything else. That's the point people are trying to make here. BMI is very broad...it's a reasonably good starting point but should be the only tool used to measure where you are. The reason BMI is a range is that so people can account for thing like bone structure and build, muscle mass, etc...including implants or whatever. Just arbitrary saying you want to be X on the BMI scale completely ignores all of the factors as to why there is a range.

  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    All that said - for most people, most of the time, BMI is going to be pretty close.
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    edited December 2014
    WalkingAlong wrote: »
    There is no 'women's BMI' and 'men's BMI' because it's a wide range that just refers to humans in general.

    For the people who find it should never be applied to individuals-- What do you tell an underweight person here trying to lose more weight, to show them they don't need to? "You look too thin"?

    I think BMI is much more useful than the older measures-- insurance tables or someone's subjective opinion.

    1)...no

    it's body fat %, LBM, etc...

    2) The body mass index (BMI), or Quetelet index, is a measure of relative weight based on the mass and height of an individual devised between 1830 and 1850 by Adolphe Quetelet...

    wow.

    What methods do you consider older and outdated?

  • Chief_Rocka
    Chief_Rocka Posts: 4,710 Member
    In for fat people that dislike BMI
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    yoovie wrote: »
    WalkingAlong wrote: »
    There is no 'women's BMI' and 'men's BMI' because it's a wide range that just refers to humans in general.

    For the people who find it should never be applied to individuals-- What do you tell an underweight person here trying to lose more weight, to show them they don't need to? "You look too thin"?

    I think BMI is much more useful than the older measures-- insurance tables or someone's subjective opinion.
    What methods do you consider older and outdated?
    The two I mentioned.

    I know what BMI is. Do you know when calories were invented? Is it relevant to their use today?

    Do you have a problem with me? Why not take it to a moderator or PM instead of pretending to schoolmarm all my posts. No one cares if you agree or disagree with me. State your point and move on. "I don't like BMI because it was invented before Facebook." Or whatever. This isn't a place where anyone gets to be 'right'.

  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    WalkingAlong wrote: »
    "I don't like BMI because it was invented before Facebook."

    :smiley:
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Kalikel wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    A few things to consider here. For one thing, as you lose weight, your boobs are going to shrink...they are mostly fat...and you will lose fat from everywhere. Secondly, BMI is a range in order to better account for various body types and structures...you have to take everything into account, just arbitrarily wanting to be at the low end of the range for example may not be appropriate for you...usually isn't unless you are a petite.
    Kalikel wrote: »
    Boobs count! When you're thin, they'll be smaller.

    Bodybuilders are quick to point out that the BMI doesn't take muscle into account and lists them as overweight when they aren't. However, it is a good gauge for the rest of us. If BMI says you're overweight or underweight, you are.

    <<<Not a bodybuilder...not even close to being a bodybuilder...I have a BMI of 26.8 (Overweight) with 15% BF. At the very highest end of "healthy" BMI for me, I'd be around 10% BF...to get to the middle of the range, I would have to burn up muscle mass. Again...not even close to being a bodybuilder...I am fit and athletic.
    I apologize for including you in with the people who are pumping iron and stand corrected.

    pumping iron =/= Bodybuilding.

    The point I'm trying to make is that people inappropriately apply BMI. They think because it's a range they have the "option" to be lower, middle, higher, whatever...when in reality, their genetics and overall structure are going to dictate a lot of that.

    A petite for example might look just fine at the very low end of a range...while someone with an naturally athletic frame and build will look ridiculous...but people don't know that...they just see the range and are ignorant as to how to apply it and also ignorant of the fact that it's really not the be all and end all...they're the same people that over focus on some arbitrary number on the scale instead of things that actually matter like their BF% and composition.
    I won't quibble over how the muscle was obtained. :)

    Except for the very muscular, the BMI is a good gauge. The underweight and overweight categories work well for the rest of us. If it says we are underweight or overweight, we can believe it.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Anecdotally
    I'm large-framed - by my wrist measurement and height
    I've got muscles (but don't think I'm very muscular) - thanks to my training programme
    I'm a UK size 10 to 12 now (US 6 to 8)
    My waist measurement is 42% of my height - which is the current 'healthy' measure that seems to be being spouted
    I'm still 10lbs above my maximum BMI

  • JenniDaisy
    JenniDaisy Posts: 526 Member
    edited December 2014
    BMI kind of falls apart when applied to individuals but it's an excellent measure of health over groups. It's proper use is for medical professionals to judge risk factors for weight related diseases, which is why it doesn't really make sense when it come to athletes. It is also used in conjunction with other things such as waist measurement, blood pressure and lung capacity as an indicator of health.

    In short, if you're in good health and get exercise, a slightly overweight BMI doesn't mean you should lose weight. But, a lot of stomach fat + no exercise and and a slightly overweight BMI means you should get down to a normal level.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    mygrl4meee wrote: »
    Chances are as you drop weight your brain size will shrink with the rest of you.
    jrhxdw75mhf0.jpg
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    WalkingAlong wrote: »
    yoovie wrote: »
    WalkingAlong wrote: »
    There is no 'women's BMI' and 'men's BMI' because it's a wide range that just refers to humans in general.

    For the people who find it should never be applied to individuals-- What do you tell an underweight person here trying to lose more weight, to show them they don't need to? "You look too thin"?

    I think BMI is much more useful than the older measures-- insurance tables or someone's subjective opinion.
    What methods do you consider older and outdated?
    The two I mentioned.

    I know what BMI is. Do you know when calories were invented? Is it relevant to their use today?

    Do you have a problem with me? Why not take it to a moderator or PM instead of pretending to schoolmarm all my posts. No one cares if you agree or disagree with me. State your point and move on. "I don't like BMI because it was invented before Facebook." Or whatever. This isn't a place where anyone gets to be 'right'.

    but im not - Im speaking back and forth with you, that assumption is simply that.

    anyway - back on topic - the two things you mentioned were insurance tables and others' subjective opinions - i didnt see insurance tables as older than BMI since they get updated or some such - but okay thanks for clarifying. I wish you luck.

    (didnt get the calorie joke tho, but i think it was just sarcasm about them being 'invented' or whatnot)
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    It wasn't a joke. The calorie as a measure of the energy in food was invented around 1850. It's still in common use, as are many measures invented centuries ago. The fact that BMI was invented around the same time doesn't mean it's not useful.

    Before BMI was popularized in the last few decades, your doctor would compare you to data put together by insurance companies.

    http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/72/5/1074.long

    That has a good discussion of the history of the what we've used as standards. It seems to recommend a continued use of BMI along with other measures, but I didn't read it that closely.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    edited December 2014
    One of the biggest changes to standards (and honestly a big reason why Americans are so much "fatter" today) is that about 15 years ago or so they reduced the "healthy" BMI limit from 27.8 to 25. And just like that, overnight over 29 million people went from being healthy to overweight, even though nothing about their weight or health changed at all. The current average BMI in the US? 27.8. So before they changed the standard, the average American WASN'T overweight. Now, they are.
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    glevinso wrote: »
    sherbear702 wrote: »
    mygrl4meee wrote: »
    I am the same height as you. I weighed 272 and now weigh 171.0 and I still could lose more based on the size of my legs, arms and stomach.. my bra size was 42Dodd but now is a 38c. Chances are as you drop weight your brain size will shrink with the rest of you.

    That was an @$$hole kind thing to say. Thanks for your support, much appreciated.

    What was wrong with that post? Or are you referring to the obvious bad autocorrect?


    Lol. I can't believe how many people didn't realize it...
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    WalkingAlong wrote: »
    It wasn't a joke. The calorie as a measure of the energy in food was invented around 1850. It's still in common use, as are many measures invented centuries ago. The fact that BMI was invented around the same time doesn't mean it's not useful.

    Before BMI was popularized in the last few decades, your doctor would compare you to data put together by insurance companies.

    http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/72/5/1074.long

    That has a good discussion of the history of the what we've used as standards. It seems to recommend a continued use of BMI along with other measures, but I didn't read it that closely.

    #marming
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    yoovie wrote: »
    WalkingAlong wrote: »
    It wasn't a joke. The calorie as a measure of the energy in food was invented around 1850. It's still in common use, as are many measures invented centuries ago. The fact that BMI was invented around the same time doesn't mean it's not useful.

    Before BMI was popularized in the last few decades, your doctor would compare you to data put together by insurance companies.

    http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/72/5/1074.long

    That has a good discussion of the history of the what we've used as standards. It seems to recommend a continued use of BMI along with other measures, but I didn't read it that closely.

    #marming
    I reserve that term for the posts with these:
    "um"
    "no."
    "wow"
    :D

    Though to be fair you spared me the "um". Thanks for that!

  • drunkenwaltz
    drunkenwaltz Posts: 5 Member
    yoovie wrote: »
    #marming

    Are you serious? You're name calling because someone is disagreeing with you? With evidence?
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    WalkingAlong wrote: »
    It wasn't a joke. The calorie as a measure of the energy in food was invented around 1850. It's still in common use, as are many measures invented centuries ago. The fact that BMI was invented around the same time doesn't mean it's not useful.

    Before BMI was popularized in the last few decades, your doctor would compare you to data put together by insurance companies.

    http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/72/5/1074.long

    That has a good discussion of the history of the what we've used as standards. It seems to recommend a continued use of BMI along with other measures, but I didn't read it that closely.

    When I was in high school (1980s) I recall a popular standard being 5'=100 plus 5 lbs for each inch. No idea where it came from, but BMI certainly makes more sense and allows for a more realistic range.

    Also, while it doesn't work for the muscular, I suspect no one in that category is confused about whether they are overweight.
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    edited December 2014
    drunkenwaltz wrote: »
    yoovie wrote: »
    #marming

    Are you serious? You're name calling because someone is disagreeing with you? With evidence?

    no, im sorry, i was trying to be silly, joke because she said that to me when i gave a fact and then she gave a bunch of... nevermind. yall just wanna fight. it was a silliness fail ok.

  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    we weren't even disagreeing. jesus.
  • projecthotbel
    projecthotbel Posts: 32 Member
    gia07 wrote: »
    Wow.. I am not sure what to say to all the comments here..

    I will throw this off a bit... What if you have breast implants??????

    I can't decide what to do with mine either, do I subtract them or not?!

    I am leaning towards not, but they are a little over 2 lbs each. I would like to not include that into my number. :) ... but they are a part of me now. Ugh.

  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    I might mentally subtract 4 lbs. of non-human substance, to figure my BMI. It's part of you but it's not.

    When you start subtracting for hair extensions and fake nails... ;)
  • projecthotbel
    projecthotbel Posts: 32 Member
    WalkingAlong wrote: »
    I might mentally subtract 4 lbs. of non-human substance, to figure my BMI. It's part of you but it's not.

    When you start subtracting for hair extensions and fake nails... ;)

    Hahaha. Yeah! I wonder how much they weigh.... just kidding ;)

    Thanks!

  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    I'm going to say the implants count. If I got them, they'd be part of the weight I was hauling around, my skin would stretch a bit, requiring more blood vessels, so they'd count. (No way in hell I'd ever consider them, lol.)

    I don't think they really make enough difference to matter, though.
  • kyta32
    kyta32 Posts: 670 Member
    glevinso wrote: »
    mygrl4meee wrote: »
    Chances are as you drop weight your brain size will shrink with the rest of you.

    :| Losing weight makes your brain shrink? Crap... pass me all the cheeseburgers and pizza!

    :)

    Don't worry, the brain shrinkage from starvation can be reversed.
    http://www.livescience.com/8293-brain-shrinkage-anorexia-reversible.html

    You can protect you brain by getting enough sleep, protein, and folate (leafy greens)
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein–energy_malnutrition

    Just try to avoid the brain shrinkage from obesity
    http://healthland.time.com/2011/08/03/study-4-factors-that-may-shrink-your-brain/
    ;)
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