The truth about the BMI scale.

Post Reply New Topic

^^^
what should replace it?

I have no idea what my BMI is...but I know I tend to be a bit underweight and I am certainly not muscular, I guess my leg muscles look a bit more 'built' than someone who doesn't walk as much as I do but that's about it. According to one of the articles it should be around 18.4 or lower, my brothers might be a bit higher...he's tall skinny and muscular but lean muscle not like bulky. Either way I have have never paid much attention to BMI or understood how it's said to be entirely accurate...I mean how do they factor in what weight is due to fat and what weight is due to muscle with a silly equation like that. Seems like it is a good general kind of measurement for a typical person to maybe have an idea if they might be leaning towards overweight or underweight but its not 100% accurate to the point it could actually predict health issues.

@ 6'3" my weight has varied between 130# and 230# [ugh].

Functional health models. Can you walk up three flights of stairs without losing your breath? Can you lift yourself out of a chair and from a prone position on the floor without using any assistance, like pushing off of your legs or the floor? What is your activity level? I row (crew) with women and men who have very high BMIs but they can row 5,000 meters in 23 minutes (most of those people are over 55 years old- I am quite a bit younger) a feat that requires both power and endurance (high muscle mass and the ability to convert large volumes of O2). Your health should be measured in relation to what you require your health for. I also think it is a myth that it's okay to be 20 or more pounds overweight (due to high fat volume) just because someone is an adult, what BS. I have people tell me I need to gain weight because I am too skinny yet I am the same clothing size as I was in high school (it was acceptable to be thin at 16)-I weigh more because I strength train and have higher muscle mass than I did at 16, yet I am between a size 4 and 6 (US) same as high school. Other adults say that to me because they are overweight and have accepted the premise that it's healthy because they are now an adult.

I have people tell me I should gain weight....and yes if it gets too low, like has happened when I've been under a lot of stress and mental health issues are out of control which significantly reduces my appetite so I can end up losing weight I should not be losing without realizing it those times I really do need to put on a few pounds in fact that was part of my treatment last time I was in the psych ward was to get me back to a healthier weight. But my default weight is like 90-95 pounds a couple times its been up to 100 but clothing items/just having eaten ect could have played a role for those times anyways I can eat like a pig at that weight and not gain anything. I have like the opposite of whatever genetics contribute to obesity or so it would seem.

Meds and anxiety will do that to you- I have been known to forget to eat when I am extremely busy and stressed- the strength training has really helped me to eat.

I wish I could forget to eat.