Quote:
Originally Posted by Exhale15
I've read that the BMI charts are of questionable use for athletes who are 'heavier' due to muscle mass. But we have to be reasonable here ... are we muscular, or is there a fair amount of excess fat.... I was in the middle of my 'average' bmi a long time ago and really can't imagine being 20 pounds lighter at this point, although I know that it is possible if I eat 100% clean and get rigorous daily activity.
There's also an optimum waist circumference for men and women - you can google that - which is another relative measure of health.
Ultimately, I think that BMI needs to be taken in consideration along with waist size, cholesterol, blood sugar, etc. in order for us to be able to assess our health.
I just want to quibble a bit.
I agree that most of us could fit within the BMI guidelines, as you are right, most of us are not athletes with lots of muscle, but, let me put this out there.
We all have different frame sizes. So, let's say I have a small frame (and there are tons of calculators out there to show that). And, I'm 5'6" tall. That would mean that my healthy BMI range is this: 118-148. With my small frame, 118 might actually be ideal with a good body fat percentage of let's say 23%. But, according to these charts, I could weigh as much as 148 pounds THIRTY pounds heavier and still be considered "normal weight" even though my body fat percentage could be over 30% body fat. There's a lot of wiggle room on that chart if you have a small frame.
Now, take someone who has a large frame at 5'6" tall. They might look at that 118-148 and laugh! Holy moly... 118? They work hard and sweat and get to 148 and then they have an 20% body fat percentage. They just squeak into the acceptable BMI range for their height, yet, there is no wiggle room and, they have a much lower body fat percentage than her same height peer. Sure, she can get to the range, but who is going to have a harder time staying in that range?
I watched it with my husband. he wanted to take off weight about 18 months ago. He was already in a healthy BMI range, but sure, he could probably lose some. So, he dropped 20 pounds, did weight training and actually gained some decent muscle mass and he's still in the healthy BMI range for his height.
Me on the other hand, I got to 165 last summer. My body fat percentage was around 26%, I wanted to shoot for 25% or lower and then got derailed a bit. I'm 5'6" (and a half). According to the BMI charts I still needed to lose 18 pounds to fit within the BMI range for my height. I would have been THIN, Thin thin. Most people don't need to get that thin to fit within "normal" weight range.
Was it doable, yes it was, but how easy to maintain? How many hours at the gym would I need to put in? I'm built large. As is my younger son and his pediatrician told me to ignore the BMI charts for him as he will probably never fit within them and that's OK - he's proportional (not chubby, just built like an ox). Guess where he got that from?