Calculating your Body Mass Index/Is it BS?

[claridge]

You know the BMI charts they have in the doctors office and the gyms, even on line.

Where you enter your height and your weight and get a BMI reading. Then that number slots you in the BMI categories of:

Underweight
Normal weight
Over weight
Obesity.

Question? If muscle weighs more than Fat, then isnt this calculation misleading?

On the "Biggest Loser", they got weighed in water at the beginning to seperate the fat from muscle % didnt they?, then I never saw them get weighed that way again.

Should we be even using these charts anymore? (Im not suggesting we all get dunked in water at the doctors either)

Marion

 

[t_jania]

Yup, you're right. It's not too hard to see through the smoke and mirrors once you know what to look for.

BMI should be used in conjunction with body fat percentage. While standing alone, it's a decent indication of which direction you'd like to go, but alone, it's not enough to judge a person's overall health and fitness level. Especially in light of the "skinny fat" phenomenon. There was an article in one of the summer issues of Health magazine that featured a woman who never gained weight, but she had almost 40% body fat. She was thin, but at the same time, she was actually obese.

As for the Biggest Loser, I don't watch. But if they weigh a certain way, they should continue, otherwise how would they compare anything? That's just science.

Personally, I don't use any of those charts. I rarely use a scale. I judge by the mirror, my clothes and how I feel. When I was young and had my perfect body, the BMI said I was underweight. Now that I'm 35, have had weight gain from quitting smoking and weigh more than I ever have and feel like I want to lose 12 pounds, the BMI says I'm perfect. What does it know anyway? Nothing much, especially since people are all unique; no one chart can capture "that thing" we need to measure ourselves.

 

[Dml]

Hi Marion,
According to those charts I'm obese. Now, admittedly, I do have some weight to loose, but OBESE?!?! I wear a size 10. I had my body fat analysis done by a personal trainer and I was within the "healthy" guidelines. 30% is when they start to worry about health issues and I was at 27%. Ideally, I'm working on getting down to 22%. According to the BMI charts Tom Cruise is obese also. Guess I'm in good company

 

[nancy324]

Here's another one for you: According to the BMI charts I am on the low side of normal, but when I had my body fat % measured, they said it was too high. So, BMI is just a very general indicator; I don't think it is meant to be precisely accurate for any one individual.

 

[Calico]

I have been told that BMI doesn't work if you lift weights and have alot of muscle. So I don't put alot of trust in it as a gauge for anything. According to it I am overweight heading to obese and I am 5 ft 7 and wear a size 12. I don't call that obese in my book.

Take it with a grain of salt!!

 

[merrybaker]

My BMI says I'm at 22% But I'm telling you I still need to loose 10 more pounds !!! It says at 22% your in good . But I dont know .I'm thinking of pitching those charts and the scale ! .I seem to back track everytime I do any of those !I'm 43 , 5'3" Down 48 pounds ,been stuck here for awhile ...Went from a tight tight 14 to a 5-6 sometimes 7.But still have plenty of flab . Hoping Cathe's Hardcore helps me get there . Then I will forsure pitch the scale LOL and go by how my cloths fit .. I think its "BS" in a sence I mean Your not Obese Or even fat at that matter ,but I know how you feel .I wish I could get to like 18% though .Ok now I'm babbling ... Good luck .

 

[maxwells]

Annette,

You are correct. BMI is a simple measurement that is only applicable for the general population. "General Population" in this case means people who don't typically have a balanced diet and do not workout on a regular basis. This is the point that a lot of people (including doctors, some trainers, magazines, and other fitness-related people) seem to have missed. Since it is a simple measurement -- it is not as accurate as a body composition test.

BMI is not appropriate for a population that exercises on a regular basis (weight training and cardio). That comes directly from the Cooper Institute -- so it's not just my opinion

So -- everyone on this forum should wipe the notion of BMI from their minds because I'm pretty sure most of us workout on a regular basis.

Shonie