Is BMI important? If i am correct bodybuilders which are more than 200lbs BMI's is over 30. Isnt that obese? i

Answer 1

No, it's not important.

BMI has been highly controversial because it doesn't distinguish between fat and muscle. Muscle weighs more.

Always measure body fat. Not weight.

Answer 2

Hello! Like others have said, BMI is not very accurate. It only takes into account height and weight. I find it is more accurate for children, because there are more weight to height norms there than with adults. However, with the increase of obesity in children, BMI is becoming inaccurate for them too. I must correct the above poster who said muscle weighs more than fat. This is simply not true. It's like saying apples weigh more than oranges. If you take a pound of fat and a pound of muslce, what do you have? A pound of each, but they will look totally different. Muscle is lean, and fat is calorically dense. The fat will look bigger than the muscle, but they will weigh the same. Body fat percentage is what you want to focus on most. The scale can be deceiving, and this is why it's important to take accurate circumference measurements so you can keep track of what you're loosing, and where. I hope this helps you.

Answer 3

the sole purpose of the BMI is to evaluate the risk factor that is associated with central obesity. for some reason in the US people are obsessed with using this a some sort of gauge for fitness and health which it does not accurately measure in any way. since the BMI does not take the body composition into account it is a far less accurate tool then the body fat measurement. for most people with higher than average amounts of lean body mass the BMI is totally inaccurate and for those who are not at risk for central obesity related health issues it's basically useless.

I'm 6'0 and 240 lbs in single digit body fat. my BMI is 32 so according to that I'm obese which is of course laughable at best

Answer 4

I am a strength trainer, not a bodybuilder. I am 6'2" tall, and I weigh 284 pounds. That would definitely make me "obese."

But my bodyfat is 14%, that would not make me obese!

So what is going on? Muscles and bone mass is a LOT heavier than fat cells. Bodyfat percentage is a lot more important than the scale, or BMI.

And how you measure bodyfat is also important. Those stomach calipers are for bodybuilders ONLY. Strength trainers do not have "wasp" waistlines. We are strong ALL OVER. Massive stomach muscles...

The scale that electrically measures your bodyfat is more accurate for strength trainers.