Anti-BMI article

SHDenver
SHDenver Posts: 87 Member
edited October 5 in Health and Weight Loss
http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/18/​health/​thin-commandments-documentary/​index.html?hpt=he_c2

This guy brings up a lot of great points, and I'm always interested in the history of things in the United States when they're so closely related to marketing. It is frustrating that BMI is used in the way that it is, considering even thin (and I mean thin) friends who's height-weight ratio put them in to the obese category under the BMI system.

I'm still going for a goal weight and will reach it because that is a part of my plan for health, but I do think the current BMI system (which it seems like so many weight loss sites use because it's backed by the government) should be reformed so that we are better informed of our overall health.

Is there something about the BMI system this guy is missing?

Replies

  • alecta337
    alecta337 Posts: 622 Member
    I can't see the article, the link isn't working.

    I think the best numerical measure of fitness is body fat %

    But really for me, its how I look in the mirror that really matters.
  • nehushtan
    nehushtan Posts: 566 Member
    He sounds like a typical conspiracy theorist. BMI is just a "rule of thumb". Everyone knows it is only a rough indicator. It's measure and categories (overweight, obese, healthy, etc.) are good enough for the great majority of people.
  • BerryH
    BerryH Posts: 4,698 Member
    Is this the article?
    http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/18/health/thin-commandments-documentary/
  • iAMaPhoenix
    iAMaPhoenix Posts: 1,038 Member
    More validation that BMI is of the devil...Tim Tebow is borderline obese according to the BMI scale...SMDH
  • Pronoiac
    Pronoiac Posts: 304
    Article has a few interesting points, but it sounds like he is just trumping up content for his article. In fact the points are all highly recycled. BMI can be a good basic benchmark, and generally easy to figure, but not the gold standard that some industry 'experts' claim it to be. The worst thing abou it BMI is that is uneccesary because there are better metrics.

    In the end evaluating health is all about body fat%, vital sign measurements, and pefromance indicators.
  • Espressocycle
    Espressocycle Posts: 2,245 Member
    Yes, BMI is flawed, but he seems to be saying that we should be focussing on healthful food rathwer than weight. That sounds reasonable, but a lot of research suggests overall health is improved due to calorie restriction regardless of the calorie source. Of course, some research also suggests a few extra pounds has health benefits, such as surviving auto accidents and beating cancer.
  • CrzyAte
    CrzyAte Posts: 55
    He sounds like a typical conspiracy theorist. BMI is just a "rule of thumb". Everyone knows it is only a rough indicator. It's measure and categories (overweight, obese, healthy, etc.) are good enough for the great majority of people.


    I disagree. They use this in schools for the California fitness test. Both of my teenage girls are soccer players, exercise daily and are naturally muscular. At 5'2 137lbs my child was told she is overweight. The measurement does not take into account muscle weight. Fortunately my child doesn't have low self esteem or this could have been a recipe for an eating disorder. I bought her a body fat scale and showed her she is within normal range and not to listen to ignorance.
  • PatasDeGallina
    PatasDeGallina Posts: 155 Member
    I agree with nehushtan. BMI doesn't work for everyone. And what alecta337 said, body fat % is totally the way to go if you can get that measurement done.

    Also those daily needs calorie calculators tend to get all out of whack for my husband especially when he was 100 lbs heavier. I think the more morbidly obese you get the less accurate the calculator. I think it assumes a linear relationship between calories and lbs but I think the situation is more exponential/natural log in practice.

    Sorry, too much math this early in the morning? :blushing:
  • Meg2012
    Meg2012 Posts: 106 Member
    While individuals may use BMI as one indicator of health and that can be totally valid. But when government agencies, insurance companies, and employers use it as a rule, it's completely erroneous.

    A measure of physical fitness should take into consideration body composition (muscle vs fat), flexibility, motor function, recovery, etc. Not a number system that was created in 1890 to give a "rule of thumb" to entire populations! LOL That's just ridiculous.

    We absolutely have a health problem in America, but using a calculation designed for a general population on a person by person basis wont actually help that much. Getting people to eat healthier, and move more, that will make actual change.
  • Meg2012
    Meg2012 Posts: 106 Member
    He sounds like a typical conspiracy theorist. BMI is just a "rule of thumb". Everyone knows it is only a rough indicator. It's measure and categories (overweight, obese, healthy, etc.) are good enough for the great majority of people.


    I disagree. They use this in schools for the California fitness test. Both of my teenage girls are soccer players, exercise daily and are naturally muscular. At 5'2 137lbs my child was told she is overweight. The measurement does not take into account muscle weight. Fortunately my child doesn't have low self esteem or this could have been a recipe for an eating disorder. I bought her a body fat scale and showed her she is within normal range and not to listen to ignorance.

    Good for you! And your girls! :)
  • AZackery
    AZackery Posts: 2,035 Member
    I prefer the body fat percentage chart over the bmi chart. I'm working on my fat. I will always be overweight or obese according to the bmi chart.
  • iplayoutside19
    iplayoutside19 Posts: 2,304 Member
    BMI is just a "rule of thumb". Everyone knows it is only a rough indicator.

    No they don't. Just look at the articles written about BMI, and how people talk about it in general. I talked to a guy at the Y a few days ago who was working out 3 hours a day because his BMI said he was Obese, when clearly he was in really good shape. I told him to get his vitals checked by a doctor and to ignore the BMI.

    I've heard that BMI is only right for 60% of the population. That's 140 Million people in the US, and 2.8 Billion people world wide. Truly an excellent statisitic #sarcasm
  • AZackery
    AZackery Posts: 2,035 Member
    The bmi is the ratio between your height and weight.

    This is the formula to use find out your bmi. If you have a scale or device that display your bmi, you can check it against the device to see if you get the same reading, which you should.

    BMI Formula:

    Weight
    ______ x 703 = bmi amount

    Height in inches x Height in inches


    To find your height. You multiply your feet x 12 + your inches.

    For example, if John Doe is 6ft 5" tall and weighs 250 pounds, his bmi would be 30.

    John's information:

    250
    ____ x 703 = 30

    77 x 77


    250
    ____ x 703 = 30

    5929

    A person can have a bmi of 30 and a body fat percentage of 20%. They will be obese according to the bmi, but healthy according to the body fat percentage chart.

    According to the bmi chart, bodybuilders are obese and these people have low body fat percentages. The bmi chart doesn't know how much fat is on your body.

    This is the reason why I only let my doctor worry about my bmi and I worry about my body fat percentage. I'm aiming to lose fat. When I reach my body fat percentage goal, I will still be obese according to the bmi chart.
  • SHDenver
    SHDenver Posts: 87 Member
    Yes! Sorry about that, I thought I'd copied and pasted correctly... I'll see if I can edit it.
  • _Amy_Budd
    _Amy_Budd Posts: 378 Member
    GREAT article - here's another try at the link: http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/18/health/thin-commandments-documentary/index.html?iref=allsearch
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