guardian.co.uk— It's long been accepted as the most accurate indication of good health, but now the efficiency of the body mass index is being questioned.
Nov 30, 2006View in Crawl 4
@CraigJ - Yes, you are 100% correct. I just think there are far more men who believe that they are not fat because they workout than there are men who are not fat because they workout. That's what I meant to say, anyway, but I'm sick and grumpy.
I don't need to know a chick's BMI in order to know if she is a fat chick. Nor do I need to ask her to get on a scale. A fat chick is a fat chick, and it is plainly evident if she is busting out of her clothes anywhere else besides her rack.We don't need science to determine if excess fat is present, because it will be right there in front of us.(I apologize to any fat chicks that I may have offended.)
:: That said, I'm 5'5" and 135lbs with probably 10-12% body fat.Not according to the BMI calculator at the National Institutes of Health. Your BMI index is actually 22.5. The good news is you're considered normal. Anything under 18.5 is considered "underweight."
I was curious and calculated the BMIs for every NBA player in the league last year. Slightly over half of the players fell in the category of "overweight" and one was "obese" (Shaq). Body-Mass-Index isn't worth much in my opinion.
I am 6'1 and the BMI says 190 pounds is overweight. I don't ever work out, but I'm not fat at all. At 190 people ROUTINELY tell me I'm too thin. I have broad shoulders and what not but it's ridiculous that my optimum weight is considered overweight.The hilarious thing is that if I weighed 155 lbs at my height I'd be in the healthy range according to the BMI. What a crock. At 155 and my height, I'd be dead.
BMI has a narrow height range 5-5" to 6-3" or so.The reason is that human weight increases byalmost the cube of their height (2-2/3rds),whereas BMI only uses the square of the height.So the formula is ridiculous for children or forlarge athletes.
the thing that really surprised me about this article is where they are talking about how its just now coming under question. I've questioned it ever since i heard of it! I'm a pretty skinny guy, but I'm almost borderline overweight according to my BMI. They really need to come up with a better measure...
I'm a nationally certified strength and conditioning specialist (12 years) with a bachelors degree in kinesiology and no, the BMI is not a good tool. It's dangerous and needs to be discarded.
I'm 6'4, 220 lbs. with a 33 inch waist.That's where the obesity is best measured...in the waist.Oh, sure, there are a few exceptions to that rule, but few.
blurredweaselDec 1, 2006
I weigh 218 pounds and it's all blubber.Why does that make me obese???
rubicanteDec 1, 2006
@CraigJ - Yes, you are 100% correct. I just think there are far more men who believe that they are not fat because they workout than there are men who are not fat because they workout. That's what I meant to say, anyway, but I'm sick and grumpy.
bowelsDec 1, 2006
I don't need to know a chick's BMI in order to know if she is a fat chick. Nor do I need to ask her to get on a scale. A fat chick is a fat chick, and it is plainly evident if she is busting out of her clothes anywhere else besides her rack.We don't need science to determine if excess fat is present, because it will be right there in front of us.(I apologize to any fat chicks that I may have offended.)
mattbertDec 1, 2006
Obesity is like obscenity - I know it when I see it.
ssundbergDec 1, 2006
:: That said, I'm 5'5" and 135lbs with probably 10-12% body fat.Not according to the BMI calculator at the National Institutes of Health. Your BMI index is actually 22.5. The good news is you're considered normal. Anything under 18.5 is considered "underweight."
stevo111111Dec 1, 2006
I was curious and calculated the BMIs for every NBA player in the league last year. Slightly over half of the players fell in the category of "overweight" and one was "obese" (Shaq). Body-Mass-Index isn't worth much in my opinion.
atrain15Dec 2, 2006
I am 6'1 and the BMI says 190 pounds is overweight. I don't ever work out, but I'm not fat at all. At 190 people ROUTINELY tell me I'm too thin. I have broad shoulders and what not but it's ridiculous that my optimum weight is considered overweight.The hilarious thing is that if I weighed 155 lbs at my height I'd be in the healthy range according to the BMI. What a crock. At 155 and my height, I'd be dead.
peter303Dec 4, 2006
BMI has a narrow height range 5-5" to 6-3" or so.The reason is that human weight increases byalmost the cube of their height (2-2/3rds),whereas BMI only uses the square of the height.So the formula is ridiculous for children or forlarge athletes.
dan_pattersonDec 5, 2006
the thing that really surprised me about this article is where they are talking about how its just now coming under question. I've questioned it ever since i heard of it! I'm a pretty skinny guy, but I'm almost borderline overweight according to my BMI. They really need to come up with a better measure...
jaymzdeanJul 7, 2009
I'm a nationally certified strength and conditioning specialist (12 years) with a bachelors degree in kinesiology and no, the BMI is not a good tool. It's dangerous and needs to be discarded.
jaymzdeanJul 7, 2009
What is your waist size?
jaymzdeanJul 7, 2009
I'm 6'4, 220 lbs. with a 33 inch waist.That's where the obesity is best measured...in the waist.Oh, sure, there are a few exceptions to that rule, but few.