As you all know, BMI (Body Mass Index) is a simple of calculation that is to determine whether you are a fat or a thin person.

I want to clarify something, is BMI reliable in real-life ?
If my BMI tells me that i'm fat (which is 25.1), where in the sense that in real-life, many people i know say i'm normal and i myself think im not fat either.
While i calculate my friend's BMI, his BMI showing 24.9 (almost the same as me and is nearly towards the fat section) where as he is really fit and tough, with a little abs popping out
Get my picture so far?

BMI Calculator = HERE

Please comment~

No, BMI is useless. It doesn't account the important stuff, like muscle mass and fat.

IMO, BMI was developed for slightly fatter people with rediculously low muscle mass to make themselves feel better.

This post has been edited by malaysianPotato: Mar 11 2008, 10:55 PM

So what's the best way to know whether you are obese or not?

body-fat level people


Chow

If you're obese? Look in the mirror...

unless you're exceptionally muscular or athletic, i think its a fair indicator of the ideal weight for most people.

there are few more ways to indicates but not so practical if compare to BMI. examples are body volume/weight against surface area, skin fold thickness, total fat %, waist-hip ratio, basal metabolic rate, lean body mass.

each measurement have its own advantages and disadvantages. e.g. skin fold thickness is particularly useful to estimate amount of fat under skin, but doesnt really reflect as whole as diff part have diff amount/distribution of fat. but generally, obese ppl have over built up fat anywhere anyway.

yes i greatly agreed. although BMI is not perfect, but it is the useful general indicator for the general population. unless you are exceptionally unusual from the general population, are of athletic build, elderly, or child, BMI is reliable. else if not, BMI won't be adopted worldwide as the general marker for obesity whereas waist circumference for risk of diabetes.

According to BMI calculator,am obese,Its at 32.8!

171cm at 96kg!

are you really obese then?

there is a new guideline for weight based on waistline



for bodybuilding, below is a chart for "lean" physique.

Weight(lbs)/hieght(inch) | Waist
------------------------------------
1,899 | 27,3
2,038 | 28,4
2,183 | 29,4
2,334 | 30,0
2,489 | 31,6
2,660 | 32,6
2,817 | 33,7
2,989 | 34,8
3,195 | 36,0
3,379 | 37,1

Cannot be trusted at all. I am fat but the BMI shows that I fall under the normal range.

BMI probably good for the old timey where there aren't a lot of process food, fastfood and so on.

Like say my friend who is 65kg my height, by right he would fit into the healthy category.

BUT his body fat is almost 35%.

And that is the obese, high body fat %. Not weight.

Weight = lean body mass + fat + water + bones

Cheers

Am fat but not obese!!

Muscles are heavy!

im 181cm at 89kg. i dont think im fat, but i have a belly. a few trips to the gym should solve the problem.

It seems that BMI calculation may not be perfectly accurate to many people...
So... what is?

To show results that you're fat.. thin.. or somewhere in-between... (eh? it actually rhymes together )

Exactly, one could be FAAAAAT, have really low muscle mass and be dehydrated and be able to be at their "ideal bmi". That alone should be reason enough to scrap BMI.

last time my pendidikan jasmani teacher taught us this easy mehod of checking if you're fat or not

1. stand naked infront of full length mirror
2. jump up and down and watch your body
3. if you have wobbly parts (at the waist, thighs, arms) then YOU'RE FAT

otherwise you're ok

That being said. A case study as follows:

In a similar situation say a person is 165cm.

a.) A 65kg with 35% body fat

Or

b.) A 78kg with 15% body fat

I rather be b.) at all times irregardless what BMI tells me.

Cheers

i LOL-ed at this... that fact that it actually kinda... sort of.... true....

this sounds a little weird but...i guess its true lol...ill try tonight

Nothing wobbles!!

I have a big belly part its hard and not wobbly!!

Another BIG LOL~! Big belly but not wobbly? How's that possible? *thinking thinking....*

true because you tried huh ahahahaha


so how's the result?


pedro, how high you jump?

you are overweight when your bmi is above 30 and your waist circumference is above 40" (male), 35" (female). that is the standard guideline.

if a body builder has bmi 35 and waist of 43", i dont think he is deserved to be called body builder.

---

Added on March 13, 2008, 1:14 amand with some people, their belly wont wobble a bit even they have 40" and above waist, but they are still overweight.

This post has been edited by youngkies: Mar 13 2008, 01:14 AM

Waist 40" / 35"? I don't see that point when calculating BMI?
Is there somewhere we can refer to regarding waistline in calculating BMI?
Coz standard BMI only use height and weight... no other factors involve...

damn...my tummy still wobbles... the lower part and some part of my thighs too lol

back to the topic...i dont really believe what my BMI tells me

Actually, when I was quite lean during 3rd year university. I could use teeth plus gums (don't really know how to explain this) to move my chests/ pecs like those in the kung fu movies.

Now there is a bit too much fat, so have to reduce fat to make it more defined.

lol...teeth plus gums..whats that? you mean you can jiggle the pecs?

Yeah but thanks to more body fat these days, it doesn't look that obvious.

Fat do covers up all the muscle faster than you think...
The sad thing is you have to constantly exercise to make up for that... which is fact many people will start to feel lazy... just like me

BMI + waist circumference is guideline used in UK. you can also refer to WHO website.

BMI uses weight and height, but doesnt reflect well for body builder. by incorporating waist circum., that removes the limitation.

This post has been edited by youngkies: Mar 13 2008, 03:54 PM

belly button and around.

My waist size is 38"!!

Sound ok to me!

Mine is 30"

You're thin!

Hehe same here... Planning to go 32" within the month.... 30" just aint right for a guy

but your risk of diabetes has double, esp. if you are asian.

When I was at 32" my tummy can clearly be seen....so... "thin"? Ahem...

Am not planning to keep it at 38,bulking phase is over,now cutting phase has started!!

Recenty studies show that waist circumference play major role for developing disease such as diabetes, etc.More than 90 cm warrant a cautious

Waist and tummy is 2 different things mate...

Im 30" and yet i still hav a little tummy popping out...

HERE << I googled this out, notice the waistline for Male (30")

I will still go for 32"

lol dude...why go for wider waist? a narrow waist would be more sexier

A narrow waist with a wide upper body is best!!

im 180 cm

last time was 100kg now manage to lose 17kg.
now is 83kg
BMI is 25++

isit ok with that?