How accurate (or inaccurate) are BMI and ideal weight body calculations?
Written by admin on March 1, 2010 – 3:46 pm -According to several BMI calculators I’ve used, my BMI is 26.5 and my ideal weight is about 175 lbs. Now, I’m 5′ 11″ and weight 190 (at 21 years of age) but I also weight train and carry a good amount of muscle mass. So am I really “overweight/unhealthy” or is the BMI a load of crap?
Tags: accurate, Body, calculations..., ideal, inaccurate, Weight
Posted in bmi calculations | 4 Comments »
By mike k on Mar 1, 2010 | Reply
Body Mass Index is a crock of %$#@. A much better guide would be a body fat calculator. Try this website. There are a whole bunch of different calculators for you to use.
http://www.healthstatus.com/calculators.html
By Don't Stop the Music ♪ on Mar 1, 2010 | Reply
BMI fails to take muscularity into account. Some professional athletes are ‘overweight’ according to BMI. So you aren’t necessarily unhealthy.
By SubJ on Mar 1, 2010 | Reply
Eat only when hungry and not more than thrice a day. Include plenty of uncooked vegetables and fruits in each meal, preferably 50%. To have more satisfaction out of ur food, Chew each morsel at least 32 times. This will also activate ur body to generate signals of hunger/fullness. Obey these signals.
Nothing other than water in between.
Take light exercises and brisk walks for 30 min.regularly preferably twice a day.
U will achieve what u have not even dreamt and that too in a reasonable time and hassle free.
Be patient and not in a hurry.
U cannot choose spots for reduction.
This schedule can be adopted on permanent basis to lead a healthy life and maintain weight.
By Bella M on Mar 1, 2010 | Reply
I don’t think it’s entirely accurate tbh. According to the BMI calculators I’ve used, I should weigh about 7.6 stone (not sure what that is in lbs), therefore I’m apparently “underweight”. Well I’m not going to go into details, but I know that is complete rubbish and I most definitely am not “underweight”. So I wouldn’t be too quick to believe that you’re “overweight”, especially after what you said about your muscle mass. According to his BMI, Lance Armstrong was overweight during the 1993 Tour de France and many other athletes and body-builders would be considered the same.
Basically, I think BMI calculators are unreliable and should not be taken too seriously. They’re more of a rough guide for the average guy but in the case of certain people (athletes, the elderly, perhaps you as well), they should be taken with a pinch of salt. If you’re still unsure, go see your GP, who will be able to ensure that you’re at a healthy weight.
Hope that helps.