2007-11-11 16:41:27 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diet & Fitness
the original purpose of the BMI was to address the correlation between central obesity and cardiovascular disease, which it does. the BMI was never really meant to be a tool used to judge the current health status. body fat analysis does everything that the BMI does and gives an accurate measurement of the bodies current ability to metabolize nutrients efficiently and it works for everyone while the BMI does not. in todays society where everyone has to be "PC" it is much easier for a health professional to tell a patient that there BMI is not in a healthy range vs telling a patient that there body fat is too high and are given an actually percentage of body fat that they currently have. because people are so dam sensitive today and so easily offended it is easier to sugar coat this specific topic by avoiding saying the word "fat" to people.
2007-11-12 09:33:09 · answer #1 · answered by lv_consultant 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it's a good starting point, but does not take into account body composition.
i.e., I work out 6 days a week and am at the very limit of 'healthy' because i carry around extra muscle weight.
for me to have an 'ideal' BMI, i would need to lose 20 lbs. I could accomplish this by working out less, but that wouldn't make me any healthier.
your body fat percentage is a better gauge, but harder to calculate.
2007-11-11 16:45:58 · answer #2 · answered by Chris R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
BMI is a good estimate for people who dont exercise but for athletic people it usually isnt that good of a guage. I saw an article in mens health that showed a picture of Evander Holyfield and he was completely shreded but his BMI was in the obese range. Now who wants to be the one to go call him obese? I think I will pass on that one.
2007-11-11 16:59:15 · answer #3 · answered by Michael W 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. It doesnt take into account muscle mass or frame size.
Using the regular BMI charts, body builders are counted as "obese". We know they're not but the system is blind to that stuff. Anyone who thinks its just "fat people" who are making excuses thinks this, is misguided.
2007-11-11 16:47:35 · answer #4 · answered by texmexgal2000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't really see the point in it - one should be able to tell if s/he is overweight or unhealthy by just looking in the mirror and being honest with oneself.
You are right, though, about it being flawed. I ran track in college, and my BMI has always been in the "overweight" zone...which is silly.
2007-11-11 16:49:26 · answer #5 · answered by Ted C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes
2007-11-11 16:43:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oops...I thought you were talking about BMI the music publishing agency. In which case, no. My bad.
2007-11-11 16:44:50 · answer #7 · answered by john_holliday_1876 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. I've heard that it is. For some people it works, but for others it's not accurate at all.
2007-11-11 16:44:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have a lot of muscles, it doesn't work very well, but other than that it's sort of okay, obviously, if you have thick bones, then it won't work very well either...
2007-11-12 02:00:18 · answer #9 · answered by Steph 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, only fat people say stuff like that
2007-11-11 16:44:45 · answer #10 · answered by fisherperson1 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋