BMI for African Americans/Blacks/Browns

BMI does suck, but I've seen some skinnier black women than myself. Even my black brother and sister tell me I have the body structure of a black women. I work out in the gym every morning, and shower with my fellow soldiers, and not to sound funny, but most of the black women in there are smaller than me. So to say that black women are generally more rounded isn't exactly correct...I think it's more of an even playing field.

Another issue with BMI is Black muscle and bone density is higher than White, that would add some mass.

Had an ex who said this was (partly) why there were no top black swimmers, although her main argument was the chlorine damaged her hair. All generalisations of course, I'm pasty white and can't swim a stroke.

Oh, PUHLEEEEEEEEEEEASE! Not the Black people can't float crap again. It's true that some blacks may have denser bones, but the reason there are no or few top black swimmers almost certainly has to do much more with lack of access to high quality swimming facilities and training. There aren't a whole lot of black skiers or equestrians either. Those are expensive sports.

Jesus.

What your ex said about the chlorine is true. Many black women, especially before the introduction of more "natural" hairstyles (which still still are hardly universal), were reluctant to go swimming because the water would ruin hairstyles they spent a lot of time on and the chemicals did a number on their hair. THAT'S why more black people aren't swimmers.

You do realize that BMI is all about money right? I read an article somewhere about how BMI has been changed a few times because if they make certain BMI overweight it mean money can be made(weight loss places) or given(goverment grants). I think it is a better idea to look at body fat percentage. I truly believe each person is different. I have some black friends and family members that are shapeless and I have white friends that are just as built as what stereotypically is considered to be a black womans figure.

There's really no stereotype when looking at the population as a whole. Women of all colors come in all sizes.

Thank you. Sure, there are some generalizations that hold SOME truth; people of some African ancestry often have somewhat bigger butts. But not everyone.

And the idea that every black woman in America is happy about being overweight or obese is nuts. Unless you believe that all fat people are jolly.

You do realize that BMI is all about money right? I read an article somewhere about how BMI has been changed a few times because if they make certain BMI overweight it mean money can be made(weight loss places) or given(goverment grants). I think it is a better idea to look at body fat percentage. I truly believe each person is different. I have some black friends and family members that are shapeless and I have white friends that are just as built as what stereotypically is considered to be a black womans figure.

SO TRUE!! It's all about insurance companies being able to charge higher premiums. My mother, who is a personal trainer and has 19-20% body fat at 57 years old (seriously, the healthiest woman I know) was told her BMI put her in the "overweight" category so her insurance premium went up. Talk about some bullshizzzz!

I really hope you arent serious...

I would check your frame first - if you have a larger frame you can weigh more, if you have a tiny frame - you should aim for less. And either way, the BMI is crap when it comes to the fact that you probably have LOTS of muscle and it doesnt account for your lean mass. I would stick to going by your body fat percentage- the BMI is as out-dated as the aerobics leotards they used in the 70s girl!

But those aerobics leotards are soooo awesomeeeee...

I get what your saying, My mamma keeps telling me the same thing.
I don't like to follow BMI for that reason! Someone mentioned bone density. In my family we all run a little heavy. I have a 2 year old niece, the size of a regular 2 year old but heavier, and you wouldn't know how heavy she was till you picked her up! My mom says we were all the same way and so was she, we have heavy bones. I think it's deceiving so I try to only compare myself to myself!

The next time you see the doctor ask for a bone density scan to confirm that you actually are "big boned."

The logic is simple....BLack, White, Yellow, Brown, Pink, Green, Orange Red.......

IF IT JIGGLES, ITS FAT!!

BMI is over-rated...a 5'10" bodybuilder could have a BMI that would put him in the obese zone, but its just the fact that his muscles are more dense than the average man. this does not make him overweight.

Focus on Body-fat and vitals, build muscle and leave the rest alone. Man or Woman, Black or White...irrelevant

I don't think race has anything to do with BMI infact I don't think BMI is realistic for most of the population because if I achieved my BMI for my height, age etc (which means i'd have to be about 10 1/2 stone) I would look ridiculous as I have very wide hips and broad shoulders and back. I'd look flat when looked at from the side :laugh:

I'm aiming to get to a healthy weight that looks proportionate to my body shape. I'm aiming for 11 1/2 stone but if I look good at about 12-12 1/2 then i'll stop as that's good enough for me :happy:

Cuz the folks in the south say Im a HEALTHY weight... I think I look good just like I am

Last time I checked, healthy weight isn't based on whether people find you attractive. It's not about looking good, it's about being healthy. Do you know how prevalent heart disease is among African Americans? But you're suggesting that you should be "allowed" more body fat because you like the way it looks.

:laugh:

My issue with the BMI boils down to this. I'm 6'3" and weigh 255 pounds, about the same as your average NFL linebacker. Our BMI's are the same. But guess what, guys like Ray Lewis are ripped and I am not. He's "obese" like me, according to the numbers. So, I'm just going to pay attention to my percent body fat and not worry about the BMI.

Ray Lewis is a professional athlete, you are not. Sorry.

:laugh:

While I am not a huge fan of the BMI scale, it exists for a reason and should not be totally discounted. The average person should fall within (or very close to) the ranges given.

I look at it like this: So many of us on MFP have been fighting a battle with our weight for a very long time. Now that we are here, we want to succeed. If there is some tool that tells you that you are are overweight, use another tool for a second opinion. If they both say you are overweight, lose the weight. That's why we are here.

In my experience, writing off the standard figures because I am black has left me with an even more serious weight problem. I had great blood work and everything else, and then one day, I didn't.

Good luck with your weight loss goals :-)

Yup this. It sucks that everyone keeps throwing around the "Ignore ___ measurement because its garbage!" yet they don't want to admit that many people just need to get healthy. I know there is an exception to every rule but its dangerous to throw around misinformation. Especially when it come to early intervention methods for better health. Of course BMI scales don't apply to a select few, but the majority of people hugely tipping the BMI scales are indeed overweight or obese.

Your comment also applies more generally to all those people who claim that they're obese but fit and have great blood work, healthy joints, etc. One day they won't.

BMI is a crock of $hitscum. You want to go off of Body Fat Percentage.

I suggest using the US Navy measuring.
http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/diet.html

Ensure that you measure correctly,

I do not agree with BMI because my husband is obese and is very very muscular. I also do not agree with the calculator above. It says that I am 24% body fat. As you can tell from profile picture, I am not 24%. I have played with the numbers and I have to drop another 1.5" in my waist to get to 20.6%. That is not possible unless I remove ribs. I am a little bit short waisted and there is not enough space from bottom of ribs to hip bones for my waist to curve in anymore.

I do not like to use bf calculators because as you age it automatically bums you up. I am 42 and if I had this exact same body at 22, it would be 4%age lower! I do not like scales because I weigh 10lbs heavier than I did 20 years ago BUT I am the same measurements and wear the same size clothes (more muscle now), BMI is stupid because it does not account for muscle.

I like the mirror...yes, that seems simple...but if you like what is in the mirror and you are healthy that is what matters.

And I do agree a bit that black women are more curvier and love their curves. I teach Zumba and most of my black women have larger butts and thighs. And as they lose weight, it comes off of their midsection a lot faster...but they still have their butts and thighs (just more muscular). I have to say, they LOVE it and their husbands do to because we joke around about it.

I am no expert by any means, but I think that blacks are more muscular naturally than whites. My sons are in great shape and very athletic, but their black friends seems to have a lot more muscle naturally. My sons have to do push ups and arm curls to get pecs and biceps and their black friends come over to swim and they are already ripped!! haha But that would mean that they weigh more but it is muscle and how they are built naturally!! Why worry about what some stupid government thing says that you should weigh??

OP, you just do what you need to do to be healthy and to have the look that you desire (your look is already great) and who cares about BMI, bf%, or scales!!

Girl you look good!! Bump and BMI or Body Fat percent #POW

You have to understand the complexities behind BMI to fully undersand how it works. First, it is more complex than a simple mathematical formula based on your weight and height. It has everything to do with how many raisins you eat before you wake up every morning. When you account for that in addition with any random freckles you have placed over your body, race place a rather significant factor in your BMI reading.

Okay, here is an analogy. You have a chicken, a hammer, and a bottle of eye drops. You weight each individually, measure the length, subtract out any body hair and any additional grams of fat that each could have consumed on a date exactly 3.45 weeks prior. Then, multiply that by the number of molecules of water they drank in the last 5 months. Then, multiply this factor by zero, and add the following forumla BMI = ( Weight in Pounds / ( Height in inches x Height in inches ) ) x 703 (for english units) and BMI = ( Weight in Kilograms / ( Height in Meters x Height in Meters ) ) for metric. Multiply this by the race factor depending on your race below:

Caucasian: 1.0

African American: 1.0

Middle Eastern: 1.0

Hispanic: 1.0

Justin Bieber: 1.0

I recommend that further studies be conducted on other races; including people that paint their face and look ridiculous, such as people who are followers of the Insane Clown Posse. I prefer not study them because I get rather annoyed by them.

Anyways, I'm glad I can help clear up this problem. I mean, when you think about it, it really is a similar problem as to wondering why the chicken really did cross the road? Trivial really. Enjoy your day.