What's Your Body Mass Index (BMI)? (1 Viewer)

[Juxtatarot]

Speaking of screwing with people's minds, getting an accurate assessment of body fat % seems impossible. 

I bought a scale a month or so ago, shows me at 21% body fat 

I did the egg test a couple years ago (I look and run/bike/lift pretty close to where I was then), shows 5.5% body fat. 

The Navy test (go Army) http://fitness.bizcalcs.com/Calculator.asp?Calc=Body-Fat-Navy shows 8%

I suspect 8 is closest but who knows really?

Fwiw, BMI is 24 so high side of normal.172-177, 6'0, waist size 30. 

Thanks for posting that link.  Navy test has me at 9% which seems reasonable.

 

[AAABatteries]

I may not be reading/parsing this correctly.  You're saying it is true, then you're saying the same thing is BS, from the video you listened to?

Is there a typo here or do I just need more coffee?

I kind of merged two ideas in to one.  Here’s the link to the video - I may have linked this somewhere before.  It’s Fung who is a huge fasting guy.  Basically the two ideas are:

1. A soda or sugary drink (or other processed foods) don’t trigger satiety signals - it’s why “there’s always room for a cookie or ice cream”.

2. The sugar spikes your insulin which blocks the body from burning fat.  This one really is more directly related to the CICO not “working”

https://youtu.be/jXXGxoNFag4

ETA - if you jump to 54:00 it’s around there that he take about satiety 

 

[Johnnymac]

Also my one piece of advice, don’t drink your calories people. I’m sure that won’t fly with the beer people here, but it’s such a waste overall. I haven’t had anything other than water or black coffee in many years. 

 I drink 3-4 beers a year now.  That used to be a good warm up on a Friday night.  Basically cut out alcohol completely.  It's so hard to stay at a good weight when you drink too much.

 

[Otis]

I thought I gave a good example with my father-in-law.  His parents lived over a 100 and all his siblings lived into their late 90s.  He died at 83 (still an avg to long life), but could have lived longer had he not smoked IMO.

Your one anecdotal example is not science. 

 

[Otis]

Not my field, I can only go on the lives of those I've known or heard about.

Again that’s like the opposite of science. 

 

[Otis]

You might be right. I'm not an expert in the field.  However, I've seen a lot of cases that seem to support this.   One thing we all do know is that bad diet and smoking will shorten your life in most instances.

No you’re wrong because my dad is near 70 and has been smoking for 50 years and his doctors say his lungs are the cleanest they’ve ever seen. So cigarette smoking is fine, it’s all about genetics. 

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Where we gather height and waist are correlated?  Waist to hip for dudes should be ideal.  Men don't tend to take on gluteal femoral fat unless they have a hormone imbalance

Oddly, and I don’t know ####, the navy calculator, was spot on, once I entered my neck size. 

 

[prosopis]

26.2

 

[Fan of Charles McCoy]

5’10, 170, 24.4 so I am Barry in the normal range. 

I am going to cut down on the beer to see if that helps as I’ve got a bit of a gut on me.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

That Navy calc is way errored in my favor.  It has me at 11% but I know I'm up around 20/22.  

 

[snogger]

I am 6 Ft... That links states "For your height, a normal weight range would be from 136 to 184 pounds"

136 pounds?? Really?      

 

[D_House]

From a general clinician’s perspective, BMI is not the be-all, end-all but it does have a role in clinical assessment. It is considered a piece of the puzzle like any other data point.

BMI greater than 25 is deemed overweight but BMIs in the mid-20s don’t trigger alarm bells in otherwise healthy adults who are active and lack additional cardiac or metabolic risk factors. However, the average adult American gains a pound a year so it’s something to keep an eye on. And certainly if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or high chilesterol you have other reasons to work on diet and exercise.

Once you hit a BMI of 28 to 30, unless you are a power lifter it’s likely that you are carrying significant excess fat and lifestyle modifications are in order.

Above 30 is clinical obesity (stage I) and needs regimented diet and exercise and possibly medication.

Above 35 (stage II) with any obesity-linked serious disease is an indication for bariatric surgery.

BMI 40 (stage III) and above is morbid obesity and merits consultation for bariatric surgery based on BMI alone.

BMI 50 and above is termed ‘super-obesity’.

The only other widely used obesity screening metric apart from BMI is waist circumference which is deemed abnormal if greater than 40” in men and 35” in women.

 

[culdeus]

Relevant study released today

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2717235

Women with elevated body fat % at a normal BMI are still at a higher risk for cancer giving more support to the fact that BMI is bull#### and Fat % should be the marker.

 

[-OZ-]

BMI 50 and above is termed ‘super-obesity’.

Worst super hero ever.

 

[Jayrod]

From a general clinician’s perspective, BMI is not the be-all, end-all but it does have a role in clinical assessment. It is considered a piece of the puzzle like any other data point.

BMI greater than 25 is deemed overweight but BMIs in the mid-20s don’t trigger alarm bells in otherwise healthy adults who are active and lack additional cardiac or metabolic risk factors. However, the average adult American gains a pound a year so it’s something to keep an eye on. And certainly if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or high chilesterol you have other reasons to work on diet and exercise.

Once you hit a BMI of 28 to 30, unless you are a power lifter it’s likely that you are carrying significant excess fat and lifestyle modifications are in order.

Above 30 is clinical obesity (stage I) and needs regimented diet and exercise and possibly medication.

Above 35 (stage II) with any obesity-linked serious disease is an indication for bariatric surgery.

BMI 40 (stage III) and above is morbid obesity and merits consultation for bariatric surgery based on BMI alone.

BMI 50 and above is termed ‘super-obesity’.

The only other widely used obesity screening metric apart from BMI is waist circumference which is deemed abnormal if greater than 40” in men and 35” in women.

My BMI is 28.9 and I'm not a power lifter, but I do lift weights regularly and have off and on throughout my entire life.  I would like to lose 10-15 lbs, but I don't think anyone would say I have significant excess fat.  In fact, I'd say I'm in better shape than 95% of people my age (41).  I've always believed that BMI is unrealistic for people 6' and taller.  The low end of the average range alone would have me looking extremely sickly and would be nigh impossible for me to reach without getting sick or stranded on a deserted island for months.  Heck the last time I was even at the top of the average range people said I looked too thin and my face was sunk in.  I was an athlete, but by no means would be considered a power lifter.

I personally believe the BMI scale needs a significant adjustment for taller people.

 

[wilked]

As far as I can tell from the responses

Everyone could stand to lose 30 pounds, but since BMI says they need to lose 50 it is wrong. 

People are focusing way too much on the 18.5 (which is defined as the start of underweight).  

People are generally working hard to justify why they are only a 'little overweight' vs overweight / close to obese.

The thing is, the rest of the world is able to fit these ranges and categories.  They were built off of statistics.  Tons of links out there, here is one

https://ourworldindata.org/obesity

It is not malnourished countries that fit it - it is literally every other country but USA (and maybe Mexico).  

I can understand why people have a hard time coming to terms with it since you are surrounded by Americans, but for the majority of posters here to say they would be unhealthy if they are in the "normal" range is nonsense in general

 

[bigmarc27]

As far as I can tell from the responses

Everyone could stand to lose 30 pounds, but since BMI says they need to lose 50 it is wrong. 

People are focusing way too much on the 18.5 (which is defined as the start of underweight).  

People are generally working hard to justify why they are only a 'little overweight' vs overweight / close to obese.

The thing is, the rest of the world is able to fit these ranges and categories.  They were built off of statistics.  Tons of links out there, here is one

https://ourworldindata.org/obesity

It is not malnourished countries that fit it - it is literally every other country but USA (and maybe Mexico).  

I can understand why people have a hard time coming to terms with it since you are surrounded by Americans, but for the majority of posters here to say they would be unhealthy if they are in the "normal" range is nonsense in general

I generally agree with you. I do think there’s a component to the muscle mass weighing more and not being accounted here. Asian countries are much thinner with less muscle mass than western countries, so that is part of it. I also don’t think everyone here being muscular is the problem, and they’re likely just explaining away their rotund-ness. 

 

[culdeus]

There's also an assumption that taller people have a sliding fat free mass scale. I would challenge that exists anywhere close to the degree they think.  

 

[Rooster]

I was in the 34-36 range for most of my adult life.  Like someone else hinted at, I always told myself that if I got down to 225, I'd be rock solid and BMI was a joke but my estimation was way off.  I'm now between 200-205 (25.9 BMI today) and I still have some flab.  I can definitely see how another 15-20lbs lost could be considered an "ideal" weight, at least for my 40 year old non-athlete body, but I also don't think people are looking my way and saying "hey look at that overweight guy!" anymore either. 

 

[MAC_32]

I generally agree with you. I do think there’s a component to the muscle mass weighing more and not being accounted here. Asian countries are much thinner with less muscle mass than western countries, so that is part of it. I also don’t think everyone here being muscular is the problem, and they’re likely just explaining away their rotund-ness. 

I don't think @wilked is wrong about some justifying them being outside of the normal range, but this is exactly where BMI fails and why body fat % says so much more.  Skinny and healthy are not mutually exclusive and that's exactly what BMI unintentionally measures.  I haven't done a check since late summer, but at that time I was at 12% body fat.  No matter the chart it's somewhere between lean, healthy, and ideal for someone my age.  And depending on what I ate the day before BMI may say I'm overweight.  Hilarious. 

 

[AAABatteries]

I don't think @wilked is wrong about some justifying them being outside of the normal range, but this is exactly where BMI fails and why body fat % says so much more.  Skinny and healthy are not mutually exclusive and that's exactly what BMI unintentionally measures.  I haven't done a check since late summer, but at that time I was at 12% body fat.  No matter the chart it's somewhere between lean, healthy, and ideal for someone my age.  And depending on what I ate the day before BMI may say I'm overweight.  Hilarious. 

Whatever you say, fatty.

 

[MAC_32]

Whatever you say, fatty.

You don't got up's like I do

 

[wilked]

I wouldn't get too hung up on it, but in general it's more right than wrong.  

Here's a visual of BMI

http://www.healthyweightforum.org/eng/images/BMI2.jpg

Another

https://www.scientificpsychic.com/health/BMI-male.jpg

My guess is that these probably line up fairly close with real life, with of course exceptions for all the tall bodybuilders that frequent this forum

 

[eoMMan]

How accurate are the scales that measure body fat %?

I think they send a mild current up through your feet.

 

[culdeus]

How accurate are the scales that measure body fat %?

I think they send a mild current up through your feet.

Meh accurate.  Better for women than men.  They lean heavily on height/weight just like BMI.

If you do it at the same time of day everyday, ideally waking up after taking a leak you can get a trend.  That's the best feature, at least you can tell it's going in the right direction if staying in the same weight range.  

Monthly try to cross check it with a caliper and if you have the cash spring for a dexa scan 

 

[mr roboto]

How accurate are the scales that measure body fat %?

I think they send a mild current up through your feet.

 Accurate enough to be useful unless you have significant issues with water retention 

Make sure you are retesting is done at roughly the same time of day is the original test and that you haven’t had anything to eat or drink that would cause your body to retain more water or bloat. 

 

[dschuler]

I’m just here for all the “BMI says I’m overweight but I’m in great shape comments”.

Having lots of muscle doesn’t mean you are healthy.  Most big athletes and wrestlers have lots of muscle, are obese, and die at an early age.  Extra weight puts considerable amount of strain on the body and organs, especially the heart.  

 

[(HULK)]

I'm sure this thread is filled with people who have already pointed out what a useless metric BMI is.  For example, when I was in the Army and in the best shape of my life (6-pack, etc) my BMI was at the very bottom of the "overweight" range.  Now that I'm old and out of shape and literally 35 pounds heavier, my BMI is at the upper end of the "overweight" range.

Overall, it's not a good indicator of anything and I wish it would go away and die.

 

[(HULK)]

I’m just here for all the “BMI says I’m overweight but I’m in great shape comments”.

Having lots of muscle doesn’t mean you are healthy.  Most big athletes and wrestlers have lots of muscle, are obese, and die at an early age.  Extra weight puts considerable amount of strain on the body and organs, especially the heart.  

BMI can say you're overweight even without you being some muscle bound monster.  Try being 6'4".  I'd have to look like Tom Hanks in Castaway to be in the "normal" range.

 

[AAABatteries]

I'm sure this thread is filled with people who have already pointed out what a useless metric BMI is.  For example, when I was in the Army and in the best shape of my life (6-pack, etc) my BMI was at the very bottom of the "overweight" range.  Now that I'm old and out of shape and literally 35 pounds heavier, my BMI is at the upper end of the "overweight" range.

Overall, it's not a good indicator of anything and I wish it would go away and die.

If it makes you happier we can just all agree to call you obese. 

 

[(HULK)]

If it makes you happier we can just all agree to call you obese. 

Honestly, when I was in the Army, I was incredibly fit.  Above normal.  BMI said I was overweight.

Right now, while not as bad as the citizens of Walmart, I'm definitely obese.  I need to lose 20 to 30 to be at a healthier weight.  BMI still has me as overweight.

My point is, BMI is dumb.