Okay i'm 19, 5'8" and weigh 175lbs and according to BMI calculations i am overweight by about 25lb but you'd be hard press to find anyone who'd agree. My measurements are 36", 24", 42". I know i'm in shape because i run up 6 flights of steps to go to work daily and i take care of what i put in my body. What is up am i calculating wrong? Is the scale faulty or am i just fat? Has anyone else run into this problem??
2006-07-20 05:36:39 · 16 answers · asked by ? 2 in Health ➔ Diet & Fitness
I a sistah and with that comes a little junk in the trunk and wide hips but trust that everything is tune up and tight
2006-07-21 02:24:58 · update #1
Like everything that tries to apply to every single person, the BMI is flawed. It doesn't take into account different body shapes, and it doesn't take into account muscle vs. fat. Since muscle weighs more, if you're really muscular BMI will say you're fat.
The whole thing is stupid and pointless. You know, deep down, if you look good and whether or not you're fat. Go with that and ignore all the government garbage and charts.
2006-07-20 05:41:42 · answer #1 · answered by Farly the Seer 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You're overweight by about 35-50 lbs...you're only 5, 8.
>> but you'd be hard press to find anyone who'd agree.
That's *exactly* why BMI exists...because people aren't fat percentage machines.
>> My measurements are 36", 24", 42".
You're not in shape...you're "A" shape. 42" waist is very fat. 36" would be appropriate for a 5' 8" person.
>> I know i'm in shape because i run up 6 flights of steps to go to work daily and i take care of what i put in my body.
That's not being in shape...that's simply making the most of what you have.
>> What is up am i calculating wrong? Is the scale faulty or am i just fat?
Yes, you're just fat.
Get this...I am 43, male, 5' 9" and weigh 410 lbs. I have a 60" waist... *BUT* I can, and do as often as possible, walk a dozen holes of golf (3.5 miles). I can walk 9 without effort. I live on a third floor apt...stairs...for the lat 8 years. This morning I walked an hour to the post office. Now I'm going to go to the gym and do some treadmill.
My physical behavior is that of someone 250 lbs.
I am *NOT* in shape...I simply eat very cleanly and have exercised all my life. My body tolerates the weight because I've put in a great amount of exercise...I have lots of muscle under the fat.
I have a 50% BMI and I need to lose 150 lbs...no queston..
The BMI is right...you are in denial...your aerobic capacity is not an indicator of "being in shape"...your shape is and 42" is way, WAY, too much.
The only problem is how honest you're willing to be with yourself.
2006-07-20 12:48:00 · answer #2 · answered by flignar 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
A BMI reading is not absolute. Muscle weighs more than fat, so someone that has very little body fat can have a high BMI reading. You sound like you exercise quite a bit and are thus in shape and have a lot of muscle, so your BMI reading is not a true reflection of you being "overweight".
The bottom line, if you feel like you're in good shape and you like your body, that forget the BMI reading.
2006-07-20 12:41:55 · answer #3 · answered by 4XTrader 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your BMI is only part of the equation. It's not the diffinitive answer on obesity. Also take a look at your body fat ratio. Chances are because you're so active, you're more muscular than most women with your measurements. And remember, muscle weighs more than fat.
2006-07-20 12:42:31 · answer #4 · answered by Erin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get some Body Fat Calipers and see if your in the average % range.
Scales don't take into account muscle mass weight.
As a former bodybuilder, I was 240lb at 6% body fat..ripped for sure. But if I did the BMI, it says I was at 30.2 which is considered very OBESE!!!
Chuck the scale.
2006-07-20 12:42:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't calculate muscle so you can be a body builder and have the same BMI as a lardass. Your height is probably what's killing the calculations, as i'm 6"1' and 180, and am on the edge of being over weight
2006-07-20 12:40:15 · answer #6 · answered by SG22 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the first answer. I figured out that if I concentrated on what a scale said then I became obsessed with it and thoughts of "am I fat?" " should I eat this?" "should I run an extra mile today?" consumed me. I was really unhappy. I realized that I could not live my life that way.
As long as you are happy, and you think that you are happy with your body, then don't worry about what the scale says.
Good luck hun! I hope this helps!
2006-07-20 12:42:55 · answer #7 · answered by Athena 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
BMI works only by mass, not by density. Muscle is heavier than fat, and so even if you look thin, you weigh more.
Look at your body fat percentage, which in combination with BMI is a much better gauge of obesity.
2006-07-20 12:40:31 · answer #8 · answered by Brian L 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I couldn't agree more. They are a total waste of time. I entered a race recently with a guy who is within the BMI and I'm about 20lbs over. He threw up after hardly any time at all and didn't complete the race. I came second.
2006-07-20 12:42:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You don't sound fat to me. You are probably mostly muscle. A better indicator of your % body fat would be to measure the amt on your arm and leg. I don't remember how to do that though. But remember that muscle weighs more than fat, so if your weight is higher than normal you are probably just muscular and fit!
2006-07-20 12:41:19 · answer #10 · answered by 1big teddy graham 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋