Whats your BMI (Body Mass Index)?

[Warbrain]

I take issue with this BMI. I know it's not supposed to be for all body types, but if that's so, shouldn't the site mention that more specifically? It rates me as 24.4, high-normal. Problem is that I have more of a stocky build than a 'typical' one. I'm not skinny, but am still far from fat or even borderline overweight.

I don't like "calculators" like this, which lump all people into a single category regardless of body type. You cannot always reliably tell whether a person is healthy or obese based on two pieces of data.

Same goes for me. I went to get a physical once and my doctor told me that I was obese. I laughed in his face and told him that I know that the BMI is a load of crap for some people. I'm the same as you. I've got a stocky build and a large frame, but I'm not as fat as I could be or as others are. I fit fine in the "made-for-most" seats on the el here in Chicago.

It also doesn't help that I'm short and around 200 pounds. I've at least lost some in the past two years and kept it off.

 

[Ugg]

25.5

I probably carry an extra 5 pounds. I cycle a lot so have big legs and a big butt but just an average upper body.

I think the BMI needs to be changed to reflect the reality of sportier types. I think body measurements would be the way to go. Calves, thighs, hips, waist, chest, arms, etc. Then, I think more people would take it seriously.

 

[.Andy]

I think the BMI needs to be changed to reflect the reality of sportier types. I think body measurements would be the way to go. Calves, thighs, hips, waist, chest, arms, etc. Then, I think more people would take it seriously.

No, no, no Ugg it doesn't need to be changed at all !. It just needs to be used properly and given the adequate emphasis it deserves. It's not meant to be something that people calculated themselves to assess their own fitness. Rather it's a quick and dirty calculation that physicians can use in addition to other variables like blood pressure, cholesterol, and waist diameter to diagnose metabolic problems. No physician worth their salt would ever make a diagnosis on the basis on BMI alone.

Problem is all sorts of hacks picked it up and have used it - gym instructors, personal trainers, dodgey websites, fat pill pushers, weight-watchers etc and have bastardised it into an anomalous way to quantify fitness. It's not for that at all. It's a reflection of health but isn't meant to be a stand alone measure. The last thing we need is people taking BMI calculations alone of any kind as a serious measure of their own health and fitness.