BMI v Height/Waist

[Julia9054]

BMI was originally devised in the 1830s, and the current scale is based on measurements taken from US servicemen in the 1950s. It is at best a crude measure as it doesn't differentiate between muscle and fat, and other more relevent methods are available. Total % body fat is a better marker.

But very difficult to calculate accurately without specialist equipment. BMI is a rough guide that is easy for the average person to understand. At my height their is a 2 stone difference between minimum and maximum acceptable weights which should be enough to take account of different frame types and musculature outside of the extremes

 

[NorthernDave]

I've looked into this and can confirm that I'm too short for my weight.

 

[Fnaar]

Why the waist, why not the girth?

I'm going to get Miss Goodbody to measure my girth later.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I'm going to get Miss Goodbody to measure my girth later.

Girth divided by the square of your length. Be sure she takes several measurements or the result may be balls.

 

[Fnaar]

Girth divided by the square of your length. Be sure she takes several measurements or the result may be balls.

Square? Like a Lorne Sausage (makes doctor's appointment)

 

[Kajjal]

BMI gives too higher scores for tall people and too low for short people. It takes no account of build and whether you are obese or just more powerfully built.

It is a useful rough guide.

 

[Profpointy]

Does anyone, especially medics, actually apply BMI to solidly built athletes or is it actually only used to categorise actual fatsos?
Serious question by the way

 

[Ming the Merciless]

the problem with all this, my ideal weight for my height (5'7") and age (47) is 11st 6lbs, for me to even get that close to that weight I have to be in very low bmi, single digits, I'm fairly stocky typical endomorph, mesomorph pack on muscle easily, broad shouldered, etc, there is no way I would be healthy at 11st 6lbs.

You must be calculating it wrong. Those numbers won't put you in single digit bmi

 

[postman]

Mine reads 27, 6' 4" put in 15st 10lbs.Tells me for my age it's good.

 

[cyberknight]

the problem with all this, my ideal weight for my height (5'7") and age (47) is 11st 6lbs, for me to even get that close to that weight I have to be in very low bmi, single digits, I'm fairly stocky typical endomorph, mesomorph pack on muscle easily, broad shouldered, etc, there is no way I would be healthy at 11st 6lbs.

I am the same height but skinny upper body, typical cycling t rex build compared to how i used to look but i will get a bmi of 23 ish, they consider 25 overweight

Does anyone, especially medics, actually apply BMI to solidly built athletes or is it actually only used to categorise actual fatsos?
Serious question by the way

I am the same height but skinny upper body, typical cycling t rex build compared to how i used to look but i will get a bmi of 23 ish, at around 10 and a half stone they consider 25 overweight. i have a works medical tommorow and i know they will use standard bmi chart , not taking into account i have a waist of 30 " and each upper thigh is about 25 ", hell of a job getting clothes to fit.

 

[Bazzer]

Does anyone, especially medics, actually apply BMI to solidly built athletes or is it actually only used to categorise actual fatsos?
Serious question by the way

Don't think it is used by medics just to categorise actual fatsos. Looking at me, it should be be clear that I am not carrying extra weight (my BMI is 22), yet everytime I have had a medical procedure in hospital in the last three years, my BMI has been checked.