The New Intimacy

What's your BMI, and do you think it's a good measure? (Private voting)

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Contributor: Antipova Antipova
I went to the doctor recently, and they always take your height and weight on the way to your appointment. They also handed me a printout after the appointment, with a record of my blood pressure, list of things my doctor and I talked about, and BMI with a short explanation. You can check yours here, if you have a reliable scale: NHIB web page (I'm setting the poll options to their cutoffs)

Their explanation of BMI stated that 24.0 was the cutoff for healthy vs. at-risk for being overweight. They printed off my BMI at 24.3, and so gave me 'healthy eating tips'---which made me chuckle, because if I had taken off my workboots before stepping onto the scale, my BMI would have been below their 24.0 cutoff.

I think the BMI is a good tool for rough assessments, but I think it gets silly when a 0.3 difference means I get speeches from my doctor, or changes the rate I have to pay for health insurance. There's enough variation from bone structure among people, and even enough fluctuation on a monthly basis in a given individual, that I think BMI should only be used as a broad classification, and not taken too seriously. What do you think?
Answers (private voting - your screen name will NOT appear in the results):
I take BMI as gospel.
1
I think BMI has some merit, but the medical field puts more faith in it than the measure deserves.
38
I think BMI is totally useless.
7
My BMI is <18.5
6
My BMI is >18.5 and <24.9
19
My BMI is >25.0 and <29.9
11
My BMI is >30.0
6
Total votes: 88 (56 voters)
Poll is closed
08/22/2011
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Contributor: Kindred Kindred
BMI overall is useful as a tool, but the specific value is not always something that should be taken as gospel. For example, the calculation does not take into consideration people with above average muscling, often classifying athletes as being obese. As with weight, it is something that should be monitored for trends, not individual absolute values.
08/22/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
IMO, it has some merit as a tool, as Kindred said. But, it should be used as part of a FULL assessment of one's health, not as the only thing.

Oh, I lied, (or I didn't use the same chart as posted) I guess mine is closer to 25. In my doc's office it's closer to 24. I have no idea why.
08/22/2011
Contributor: Coralbell Coralbell
I think BMI is useful, but body fat percentage is more important. My sister would be considered overweight based on BMI, but she's 5'9" and wears a size 6. She just has a lot of muscle which is denser than fat.

I forgot to pick my BMI for your poll, but it's exactly 24 right now. I'd say it seems pretty accurate in my case. I feel like I'm on the edge of being overweight and I'm trying to lose a few pounds right now. I feel a lot better about my body when I'm in the 22 to 23 range, and I've read that a 22 BMI is considered to be the "ideal"
08/22/2011
Contributor: darthkitt3n darthkitt3n
My BMI is about 21.5 right now. I don't really bother with checking my BMI very much. I'd rather keep track of my body fat percentage.
08/22/2011
Contributor: indiglo indiglo
I agree with what's been said so far. It can be an additional tool to help gauge you, but it isn't the end all and be all of health analyses. Someone can very easily be thin with a good BMI but still out of shape.
08/22/2011
Contributor: Petite Valentine Petite Valentine
My BMI currently puts me in the "overweight" category, and I agree with that assessment. However, I'm fairly close to the "obese" category and I don't agree with that at all.

I may not be whippet muscular like a personal trainer, but I've been working out daily for a couple of months, so underneath my pudge there are muscles. In fact, last time I told one of my doctor's (not my GP) what I weighed, he actually looked at me shocked and said "no way." His opinion - and I think it qualifies as medical - was that I was gaining muscle faster than I was losing fat, hence the lack of change on the scale. His advice was to ignore the numbers and keep doing what I'm doing. No wonder he's my favorite.
08/22/2011
Contributor: Elaira Elaira
Mine is 17.5 which means I'm considerably underweight. I'm about 5'4 and 105. According to this, I need to gain about 10 pounds to be "healthy". I'd do anything to be in the "healthy" category.
08/22/2011
Contributor: skunked skunked
Mine is rather low. However I am constantly working out and watching what i am eating!
08/22/2011
Contributor: Jobthingy Jobthingy
Don't know, don't care.
08/22/2011
Contributor: Gunsmoke Gunsmoke
My BMI appears high @ 29 - but this measure will always be high for someone who prefers to lift weights vs. aerobic exercisers. BMI has no way to distinguish between muscle or fat.

There is a multi-billion $ industry dedicated to the perpetual diet. Most dieters yo-yo up and down which causes more damage to your health than simply maintaining a steady weight - even if it's above what they want you to consider normal.

My personal opinion is that a persons ideal weight is about 10 lbs high than the experts tell us.

Our bodies are designed to keep 'something in reserve'. Although famine is rare in western countries - a serious illness can sap ones strength a lot. I prefer to have some in reserve for when I need it.
08/22/2011
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
I agree that it can be a useful tool, but shouldn't be the only measurement of "are you healthy" or not. At 5'2" I have weighed between 95 and 130 pounds and in my opinion I looked and felt best when I was between 105 and 110. At 105 I'm pretty close to being underweight, even if I'm eating right and being very active. I was considered underweight most of my childhood, but I was still healthy.
08/22/2011
Contributor: Elaira Elaira
The calculation doesn't seem to take into account the frame size of the person. If I had a larger bone structure but weighed the same, I'd be seriously underweight. However, I have a small frame and I look healthy although I'm small. I eat whatever I feel like and my body doesn't seem to want to retain any more weight than it already has (although I wish it would).
08/22/2011
Contributor: Naughty Student Naughty Student
I am 5'7 and I am skinny but I weigh between 140-143 on average.

I do not look like I weigh this amount but I do, ppl never believe me. I have a massive bone structure and I know my bones are heavy. Compared to someone my height and shape with bones that aren't massive as mine, the weight difference is probably 5 to 8 pounds less then what I weigh.

A can't weigh 135, I look anorexic or boney, I did weigh that much once and it was sort of scary how much my bones poked out, sort of gross.

So the whole BMI is a bunch of bull to me. I think that those machines that measure your water retention, fat, muscle, etc are more reliable. Although I have never tried it. I don't want to start weighing myself, I'll become obsessed with my weight.

I don't have a weight thingy, mom had one and she would hide it to make sure my sis and I wouldn't measure our weight every day.
08/22/2011
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by Elaira
The calculation doesn't seem to take into account the frame size of the person. If I had a larger bone structure but weighed the same, I'd be seriously underweight. However, I have a small frame and I look healthy although I'm small. I ... more
I agree with that 100%. I have a smaller frame and 100 pounds doesn't look horrible on me. I knew a girl with a larger more athletic frame who was I think 5'6" or so and I thought she looked great between 160 and 170. Instead she obsessed about her weight and lost a ton and she's in the low 140's I think now. I saw a few pictures and it didn't look good. Skeletor isn't sexy! lol
08/22/2011
Contributor: Beck Beck
I am totally embarrass to say mine! 30.1just did it. I have lost 20lbs since I had my son in Feb, however I am still obese! I hate the way they do it also, it does not seem right that there is not more calculated in. I know that there are not many woman that are 5ft 3in that have 40ddd breast, this in like 10 or more pounds just in breasts! I am only 170ish. I try not to worry about it, my doctor told me not to also. She said if I feel healthy and remain active I am fine. I am active I have a three year old and a 6month old, plus my activities with my husband. I move around plenty! My recommended weight is 103-145 or so I have not weighted in this limit since before I had my first baby!
08/22/2011
Contributor: Yaoi Pervette (deleted) Yaoi Pervette (deleted)
I have to agree with everyone who has said that it has some merit, but is too heavily relied upon by doctors when counseling their patients on weight issues. I have struggled with weight issues my whole life. A couple of years ago, I lost a substantial amount of weight. It brought my BMI just down to 25. By all accounts, I would be considered bordering on being overweight. However, anyone who saw me knew otherwise. I was very small and bony. The problem was that losing so much weight left large amounts of loose skin on my body. I probably had like 15 pounds of the stuff on me. Stuff like that doesn't get factored in BMI. I still struggle with yo-yo weight loss and gain to this day.
08/22/2011
Contributor: Beck Beck
Also going by other things on that page say I am fine, I have a 35inch waist.
08/22/2011
Contributor: GenderSexplorations GenderSexplorations
I think that BMI could be useful as one part of a complete evaluation. But when it's the sole factor used, it's useless. I mean muscle weighs more than fat, as they say. So someone who was quite muscular and eats well with perhaps a small layer of fat could rate as overweight when in fact they're healthier than someone exactly in the middle of the 'healthy' range who has a naturally fast metabolism but eats only junk food.
08/22/2011
Contributor: Kim! Kim!
Quote:
Originally posted by Naughty Student
I am 5'7 and I am skinny but I weigh between 140-143 on average.

I do not look like I weigh this amount but I do, ppl never believe me. I have a massive bone structure and I know my bones are heavy. Compared to someone my height and shape ... more
I have that same problem. I'm 5'2" so my lowest possible healthy-looking weight is a bit lower but it's still higher than what it "should" be.
08/22/2011
Contributor: Rockin' Rockin'
According to the calculator, I could gain 20 pounds before I'm "overweight" but I already feel like I could lose some weight and feel better. I haven't been exercising as much lately, and I want to get back into strength training. So what's the calculator say about that? Not much. I take it as one indicator, but how I feel when I look at myself, how my clothes fit, and my overall health (how much energy I have, how often I'm sick, etc.) weigh more heavily *chuckle* in my lifestyle decisions.
08/22/2011
Contributor: null null
I don't believe the BMI has hardly any bearing on health. When I was 5'3" and 97lbs, I was told that I was at risk for being overweight...huh?
08/22/2011
Contributor: Sunshineamine Sunshineamine
I'm 5'2" 135 lbs at just under 25 for my BMI. As a nurse and a public health consultant I know BMI is a very generic way of determining what a healthy weight is d/t the fact that only height and weight is taken into account. Bone structure and frame size added into the equation make a huge difference . If you love you for you who you are why give a damn what your BMI is as long as you are comfortable in your own skin. If you're not at a heightened risk for serious illness because of your weight or "BMI" then why worry? Life is too full of other shit to be worried about to also care what some dumb ass "medical professional" cooked up as the standard of measuring health. Long story short BMI is a freaking joke for the most part.
08/23/2011
Contributor: Ghost Ghost
Quote:
Originally posted by Jobthingy
Don't know, don't care.
<3 This is how I feel.
08/23/2011
Contributor: Elaira Elaira
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
I agree with that 100%. I have a smaller frame and 100 pounds doesn't look horrible on me. I knew a girl with a larger more athletic frame who was I think 5'6" or so and I thought she looked great between 160 and 170. Instead she ... more
I just had a post published on Eden Cafe about being super skinny and how it presents a different set of insecurities. I was down to 95 and felt so gross. Bones = not sexy.
08/23/2011
Contributor: Ivy Wilde Ivy Wilde
Quote:
Originally posted by Elaira
I just had a post published on Eden Cafe about being super skinny and how it presents a different set of insecurities. I was down to 95 and felt so gross. Bones = not sexy.
When I was younger, I was skinnier than was attractive, though I actually liked it because as a dancer, it made me look better. However, when I hit my late twenties, my metabolism changed and I started gaining weight more easily. Now I'm a little over my ideal weight for various reasons. (Though I am working on fixing that as you can read about in my articles on the Eden Lives Healthy blog.) Maybe when you get a little older, you won't have as many problems with being underweight.
08/23/2011
Contributor: Errant Venture Errant Venture
Quote:
Originally posted by Naughty Student
I am 5'7 and I am skinny but I weigh between 140-143 on average.

I do not look like I weigh this amount but I do, ppl never believe me. I have a massive bone structure and I know my bones are heavy. Compared to someone my height and shape ... more
I agree. The BMI doesn't take into account such things as muscle - which is the main, though not the only thing, that messes with the BMI. I don't have a weight scale, so I can't take the test, but in my last measurement, I was considered healthy. It's useful for a rough guess, but if exact measurements are needed, then I feel this isn't the best thing to use.
08/23/2011
Contributor: Beaners Beaners
I think BMI needs to be take with a grain of salt. I have a friend who has a very low BMI like I do, and she just got diagnosed with super high cholesterol, so it's certainly not a measure of whether or not you're healthy. I recently went to the doctor and they just kind of told me in passing "Oh your BMI is blah blah blah." It wasnt a big deal at all, but it did let me know what end of the sectrum I was on.
08/23/2011
Contributor: Papershotglass Papershotglass
My BMI says I am overweight.

If you saw me, you would probably either A. ask me where I got my boob job done or B. tell me to eat a sandwich.

Awkward body is awkward.

In any case, BMI doesn't take a lot of things into consideration. An NFL athlete would be considered obese on that chart, but you and I both know that that's a whole lot of muscle being packed in there. There's also the helpful saying "Fat but fit," to consider.
08/23/2011
Contributor: ss143 ss143
Never liked or thought that the BMI chart was accurate it leaves so many thing out of the equation muscle mass bone structure/density or even water retention. I am not thin by any means but I do know I could never be what the BMI chart says I have to be in order to classify as 'healthy' with the way my bone structure is and how I'm proportioned I would look totally weird at the weight it says I am supposed to be as well as its just simply an unattainable weight for me.
08/23/2011