2007-05-21 04:26:51 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diet & Fitness
Pretty much. I have a healthy BMI and body fat level, but I'm sure there are plenty of people who are being misclassified by BMI.
HTH : )
2007-05-21 05:08:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
BMI is a guideline that is reasonably accurate for the
"average person", but not for all.
For example, I am 5'8" tall and weigh 210 lbs. According
to the diet industry, with a "large frame" I should weigh
no more than 174 lbs. I am clinically obese, right?
Perhaps clinically, but in reality, I am muscular, with a
large frame and perhaps 5 pounds overweight.
So yes, it certainly can be a "load of tosh" or even
a"crock of sh*t", But I actually get a kick out of telling people that I am obese.
Take it with a grain of salt. The best way to know if
you're obese is to look in a mirror.
2007-05-21 11:45:57 · answer #2 · answered by Joe Angus 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Agreed, it's a piece of tosh. Mostly, the issue that I have about it is -- suffering from an eating disorder, I used that thing as a bible. Problem is, you are sick not even reaching the BMI danger zone. It's nothing but yet another attempt at society messing up more people, and to give people something to worry about achieving than paying attention to bigger issues in the world lol
There are more scientific ways than that, to determine how healthy you are. Whether you are 200lbs, or 99 lbs. If you don't treat your body right, you are unhealthy. and that is a whole lot more dangerous
2007-05-21 11:49:13 · answer #3 · answered by Spider in the Salt 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely. It does not take into account how much muscle a person has. So, if someone has a lot of muscle& barely any fat, they can still be called "obese" when they are not ,according to BMI. (due to muscle weighing more than fat) Example:
If you have 2 females & both are 5'5" & weigh 180 lbs.
Female #1 does not diet & the only exercise she gets is putting Big Macs in her mouth
Female #2 is a body-builder
According to BMI, both would be "obese" when person #2 doesn't have an ounce of fat on her.
Not only is the concept flawed, but, it is one of the causes that makes girls think they are fat ( & cause eating disorders) when they are not....just have more muscles than they think.
2007-05-21 11:34:39 · answer #4 · answered by Maria Rose 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I with you on this one.
My previous doctor would clinically declare me as obese after my yearly physical.
I am 5' -10" and weight 260 lbs. He would not take in consideration the muscle with bodyfat ratio I had. So I dumped that typical internal medicine doctor and went with a doctor with a sports medicine background. The BMI calculation is a joke. Body calipers or being submersed in water is the precise way to measure bodyfat.
2007-05-21 12:08:02 · answer #5 · answered by super 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i totally agree with you. i have met thin people who were unhealthy and larger people who were very healthy. i think genetics play a big part of how much we are to weigh. also, hormones and medical reasons keep some people at a certain weight. i have pcos and it takes everything i have to keep my weight where it is and i still get hassled. i think as a society we feel if a person is overweight that means they are lazy and eat all the time and i beg to differ. sure, there are the ones who eat and don't do anything but, don't assume that everyone is like that.
2007-05-21 11:38:32 · answer #6 · answered by rokprincess 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am confused, what is bad about it? You are the first person I have ever heard saying its not a useful tool.
Perhaps you just feel bad because now there is an acutal calculation that tells you you are fat...not just a person's opinion...
2007-05-21 11:34:37 · answer #7 · answered by EllisFan 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
when I saw it , Thought there is no possible way I can get down to the weight they set on the new one =I'm with you on this one
2007-05-21 11:30:17 · answer #8 · answered by caffsans 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋