Body Mass Index (And the "Obesity Epidimic")

[Seren Meinir]

Alright here is my argument.

The Body Mass Index, or BMI, is a faulty way of measuring how 'obese' people in the America are. The Body Mass Index only takes in how tall and how much you weigh and judges the BMI on that. Now it doesn't take into account muscle mass or even bone mass! This means it is a faulty measurement because everyone has a different bone mass and a muscle mass depending on genetics and how much the exercise.

Now I know there is more obese people than there was a long time ago. But has anyone taken into consideration it's not only the food we eat. Our body is not meant to process 'vegetable oils' and if we cut out fats and other things that we have ate for millions of years then that could be a cause. Also we should promote playing more and make children participate in a sport. If I had to do this I know I would have played volleyball but I didn't because, I am lazy.

So does anyone have any other ideas on this?

[Janirianna]

I think that you have a really good point about this, and I think that we should do something about that. There is no real reason why people should be eating so much. It so bad for the body to have so many waste products in it.

[ecco]

the body mass index is not "faulty". clearly you would not check a body-builders BMI and tell him he's obese. it is one of those things that only works alongside some basic common sense.

also, it is important to know what is right for your body - personally, my BMI hovers just below what is considered "healthy", but for me, that is normal. i am a very petite individual in build, and i eat a WHOLE lot of junk and simply dont gain weight - partly because im only 20, and i know many girls and even more boys around my age who have very fast metabolisms. equally some people just ARE larger naturally - but when you get to the point of obese or morbidly obese, or very underweight, it is a danger to your health.

BMI is just a starting point. for some people its a huge comfort, you know those people who think theyre "so fat" then they find actually, their weight is normal and healthy for their height.

[Kimi_Delaetus]

Sorry but I have to disagree.

BMI is ridiculous.

I'll even use myself as an example.
I'm 5'5''-5'4''.
My weight swings between 145-160lbs.

If I use the adjusted equation (I'm American and don't know how many "meters" high I am off the top of my head)...

BMI = mass (lbs) x 703/(height (in) squared)
155 x 703/5'5'' (65in) squared
108965/4225
25.79

According to it, I'm in the higher half of overweight.

BMI = 145 x 703/64inches squared
101935/4096
24.88

According to this, I'm still in the higher half of overweight.

Last time I talked to my doctor, I was a perfectly fine weight for my height.

What carries more weight: a system of numbers and calculations or a doctor?

Also: my gym teacher had an "obese" BMI. The guy was fit and healthy but not a body builder.

[ecco]

but again, if you are of an incredibly well toned physique, of course, like i said, use a little common sense. if i worked out all the time and found i had gained weight, i wouldnt be like "oh shit! im getting fat!" becausr i have the basic knowledge that muscle mass is heavier than fat. same thing applies to BMI. its not intended to be the be-all and end-all of defining a healthy or not healthy weight.


also, i dont know what BMI calculator you've been using but most say that 25 is the tipping point from healthy weight and overweight. so, if you go by your first calculation, youre a tiny bit overweight, which obviously isnt really an issue - or by your second one, you are within the healthy range.


i start to wonder if america doesnt have different boundaries for each category than over here. considering a while back a british tv presenter did an experiment involving weight loss, and when she had an american doctor check her weight he told her she was obese - she was curvy, overweight even, but NOT obese. so it just leaves me wondering if some of these places are just feeding into the whole SKINNY IS GOOD bullshit.