Does your BMI accurately reflect how you look?

[Anonymous]

I know people, especially athletic people, who weigh 200 pounds, are below 6 ft , and they don't even look overweight. Yet their BMI classifies them as overweight or obese. Anyone feel the same way?

[cth96190]

No, the body mass index scale is absurd. I am convinced that it was created by an undernourished 50kg Asian male.
I am 168cm tall and weight 96kg, so according to the BMI scale I am morbidly obese.
What the BMI does not take into account is the fact that I am built like a refrigerator.
Massage therapists and chiropractors have used the word 'tank' to describe me.
I suppose that it is the result of a combination of genetics with having been a competitive swimmer, a soldier and a dedicated student of karate for most of my life.
Strap 40kg of equipment to your body, then run around in the bush for weeks on end. Do that for a few years and then see how the utterly unrealistic BMI classifies you.

[helloeveryone100]

i m like that.

when i gain 15 pounds its lean weight... but i m told its high

the thing is, even if its muscle, your blood pressure will rise when you get bigger... your body isn't designed to be super muscular. thats reverse engineering and not efficient.

[Xfitchick]

No, it does not. It is a first indication. As you point out, a muscular body can have a high BMI and still look great, while a low BMI with a lot of fat is not healthy at all. Better is to have your muscle/fat raio measured and see if that is within healthy range.

[Xfitchick]

thanks

[selmo93]

It doesn't take into account body structure, weight proportion etc

[Joesyyyywhales]

I'm 180 pounds 5'4 at little over 20% body weight. That chit classifies me as obese but you can clearly see my abs even under a layer of fat.

Your best indicator is the mirror OP

[Asker]

The bmi doesn't take into account your muscle mass or body fat. Only weight. That's why you're considered obese.

[NerdInDenial]

The BMI applies to people who are not athletes or bodybuilders

[Asker]

Even normal-looking people?

[NerdInDenial]

It's a good gauge for people to see how much fat they theoretically have. It's more of like a warning sign than an accurate measurement

[Asker]

From what I just read, the bmi only takes the weight and height numbers into account. It doesn't consider the muscle mass/body fat percentage.

[NerdInDenial]

It's a warning sign to tell you might have extra unwanted fat, and that's what most people want to get rid of. Most people who are in the obese range have more fat than muscle

[KittieCat]

Well I'm beefy so through bmi out of the window for me

[Anonymous]

Nope