How accurate is a Body Mass Index (BMI) reading?

1. 61

   AngelTraderposted 13 years ago

   How accurate is a Body Mass Index (BMI) reading?
   
   I only ask as according to the one I have just done I am overweight bordering obese! Frankly I found the results humorous as I am 46, six feet tall and around 95kgs. I do yoga four times a week, each class an hour and a half, cycle twice a week, avoid alcohol and am a vegetarian. Yet I am overweight!

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2. 79

   Don Bobbittposted 13 years ago

   It's just another Tool! For you to watch and manage, along with a myriad of other measurements that exist for you to use.

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3. 43

   ChristinSposted 13 years ago

   a BMI calculation by itself can be deceptive, particularly if you are somewhat athletic or muscular as muscle is heavier than fat. BMI is merely a height/weight correlation.   A BMI calculation without a physical test of body fat does not take into consideration your bodies composition.  Weight lifters who pack on muscle and have very little body fat can run that test with their numbers and come up as obese Take the number with the proverbial grain of salt and just focus on health.  If you truly want to know your BMI go somewhere where they can measure with calipers or weigh you on a special scale designed to tell you your body composition.

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4. 44

   personaltrainingposted 12 years ago

   It sounds like you are quite fit and active, but that isn't what the BMI measures. Simply put, regardless of how active you are "you weigh what you weigh" and by my maths that's about 12kg overweight.
   
   Of course if the extra weight is from extra muscle mass, I'd see that as a GOOD thing and encourage you to start thinking of it as "superhuman" rather than "overweight" ;o)
   
   Of course... if that's not the case and people are overweight as in "actually over fat" then that is a health issue that should be addressed.

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