BMI for those who exercise

[chassis]

I view BMI as one of many kpis to manage.

Think of weight as being potentially harmful over time (later in life) to joints, muscles and heart. All things being equal, the heart, joints and muscles have an easier job to do if there is less weight to contend with.

Even with low body fat percentage, for a heavier individual the heart, muscles and joints have to do more than they would otherwise have to do if the individual had less weight.

BMI is not a cosmetic or aesthetic kpi. You may like how you look, but BMI suggests thinking about how much weight is being carried for your height.

[DenverSteve]

I see you listed some conditions. I would be more concerned with that resting pulse rate and diastolic than the weight.

[F32Fleet]

Meh. Not buying it. Muscle burns calories, improves posture, provides stability for joints preventing injuries and improves mental health. You may have a point for heavy weight body builders but the vast majority of people aren't like that.

BMI always has been a poor indicator of health for active individuals.

[TheWatchGuy]

The thing with BMI is it is a good system for a vast majority of Americans to determine over/under weight.

A very small percentage of Americans have a higher than average BMI due to muscle mass.

Just to put it in to perspective, many fitness sites/mags estimate about 10% of the male population can bench 225, and you get into fractions of a percent that can bench over 300. Those are the people that are overweight from muscle on the BMI scale.

[3PedalJake]

Absolute waist circumference is a more reliable indicator of health because whatever your muscle mass or height, waist size is roughly the same. For men >40", for women >35" is a good indicator you're having or will have other metabolic health issues.

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by 3PedalJake

Absolute waist circumference

Measurement is at the umbilical, then? Because I'm a 34 waist, but at least 20lbs over, and certainly not the musclebound I was in my yout.

[VAcurler]

Have a drink and watch the movie Idiocracy and realize that it is a foreshadowing of our society and you'll forget all about your BMI chart.

[3PedalJake]

Originally Posted by VAcurler

Have a drink and watch the movie Idiocracy and realize that it is a foreshadowing of our society and you'll forget all about your BMI chart.

The rest of the world going to sh!t is a piss poor reason to allow it to happen to your own personal self, it's actually makes a good argument for trying to prevent it. You'll want to be at the mercy of the coming "healthcare" system as little as possible.

[c1pher]

BMI is stupid. I hated that the Navy used to refer to it as part of their neck and waist measurements. It’s a double edged sword. They want you to exercise and be in shape but penalize you when you gain muscle weight. It was also a problem getting uniforms because everything was cookie cutter. I’d have to buy 38 long pants just so my thighs could fit and then have the waist and pant legs cut way back. I always felt I looked somewhat stupid but at the same time couldn’t really afford to have custom daily uniforms made.

[Oldgixxer]

Originally Posted by c1pher

BMI is stupid. I hated that the Navy used to refer to it as part of their neck and waist measurements. It’s a double edged sword. They want you to exercise and be in shape but penalize you when you gain muscle weight. It was also a problem getting uniforms because everything was cookie cutter. I’d have to buy 38 long pants just so my thighs could fit and then have the waist and pant legs cut way back. I always felt I looked somewhat stupid but at the same time could really afford to have custom daily uniforms made.

I had similar issues with uniforms,my waist/quad ratio was always skewed so I had to get the waist to fit,then wear a belt and just looked down right ridiculous. Was not able to have them altered either.

And thank you for your service

[c1pher]

Originally Posted by Oldgixxer

I had similar issues with uniforms,my waist/quad ratio was always skewed so I had to get the waist to fit,then wear a belt and just looked down right ridiculous. Was not able to have them altered either.

And thank you for your service

And yours. Been retired for 16 years now.

[Lady Jane]

BMI is practically useless if you are fit as it doesn't take into account muscle mass.

[Prossx]

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bmi-s...b6d14c336a43b0


The racist roots of the BMI go back a long way. Created by Belgian mathematician Adolphe Quetelet in 1832 as the “Quetelet Index,” the scale was created using data from predominantly European men to measure weight in different populations.

Euro men in 1832 were skinny AF for a variety of reasons. BMI is meaningless.

And also why I can't fit into the optional G8x bucket seats!!!

[domacuratl]

Originally Posted by Oldgixxer

Im sure all of my doctors could,but you really think a pinch test is necessary to determine Im not obese??

I stay lean year round

Damn yo, Great physique! Being in the healthcare field and working with the military; I always hear patients complaining about their BMI being documented in their medical records. I personal think BMI screening can only be a decent predicter for possible underlying health problems or conditions but should not be a way to classify patients based on weight and height.

[infinitekidM2C]

Originally Posted by Prossx

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bmi-s...b6d14c336a43b0


The racist roots of the BMI go back a long way. Created by Belgian mathematician Adolphe Quetelet in 1832 as the “Quetelet Index,” the scale was created using data from predominantly European men to measure weight in different populations.

Euro men in 1832 were skinny AF for a variety of reasons. BMI is meaningless.

And also why I can't fit into the optional G8x bucket seats!!!

This dude knows his BMI history

[Oldgixxer]

Originally Posted by domacuratl

Damn yo, Great physique! Being in the healthcare field and working with the military; I always hear patients complaining about their BMI being documented in their medical records. I personal think BMI screening can only be a decent predicter for possible underlying health problems or conditions but should not be a way to classify patients based on weight and height.

Thanks brother.
Yeah,I just don't understand why it is the way it literally makes no(common)sense. A Dr can easily take a 1 second glance at you and determine if you're obese or not

[chassis]

Lance Armstrong 5’10”, 165lbs, BMI 23.7 “normal”
Michael Phelps 6’4”, 198lbs, BMI 24.1 “normal”
Eliote Kipchoge 5’6”, 115lbs, BMI 18.6 “normal”
Ma Long 5’9”, 154lbs, BMI 22.7 “normal”
Luis Malagón 5’11”, 172lb, BMI 24.0 “normal”

What is “fit”?

[zx10guy]

Just seeing this thread and it's sort of timely. I'm being seen by a vascular doctor due to the aortic aneurysm I have. She's never been happy I've continued to weight train despite her urging for me to stop. My last visit with her she brought up my BMI and that I need to be careful with putting on any more weight. I just looked at her dumbfounded. As you've said, anyone looking at me can tell I'm not obese. I'm at 6'4"-5" and my weight at the time of the appointment was about 210 lbs.

I recently was out with a lady I've been seeing off and on. She's a pediatrician. I told her what my vascular doctor said about my BMI and she just laughed. Said it's ridiculous and that I'm all muscle so using BMI in my case is total nonsense.

[Lady Jane]

Too many MDs practice cookie cutter medicine. One size fits all because that's all they know and don't take the time to actually diagnose and evaluate on an individual basis. And you wonder why it often takes the opinion of many of them to get a proper diagnosis... But that's just me and what do I know?

[azuki]

bmi doesn't mean much. my bmi is 25.7 or "overweight". i'm 5'5'' and 153-155lb

View post on imgur.com

[chassis]

Excluding body builders or otherwise more muscular-than-average people (like examples given in this thread), for which scenarios does BMI fail to deliver actionable health information?

[moooza]

BMI is so bad. Have you had one of those full body scans? They can be useful.

Great podcast (in general) on the history of BMI, issues, etc. https://gimletmedia.com/shows/science-vs/76h644b