BMI-whats what?

jimycooper
jimycooper Posts: 740
edited January 2009 in Training, fitness and health
i've been on a good few websites that measure bmi and they all say that im differnt things, some say underweight and some say normal?
does any-one know what the boundrys are?

cheers

Comments

  • andy_wrx
    andy_wrx Posts: 3,396
    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... hlight=bmi

    I wouldn't get hung-up about BMI.

    It works fine for the unhealthy majority of the population but gives some very misleading results for anyone athletic.
  • jimycooper
    jimycooper Posts: 740
    sounds like it's a bit of a waste of time then.
  • rb1956
    rb1956 Posts: 134
    Like the man says, BMI has issues if you don't fit into the normal sedentary citizen model, especially if you're unusually muscular. However it is a useful, easily-calculated starting point. BMI should not be used alone as a final diagnosis of appropriate weight. Read all about it on your friend Wikipedia. Having said that, I've noticed that many critics of the BMI are simply swimming in that big river in Egypt, comparing themselves with professional "power sport" athletes whom they do not themselves resemble. Cyclists might want to remember that the average BMI of riders in the 1997 Tour de France was 21.47.

    If your BMI suggests that you're overweight, have a chat with your doctor and arrange for a body fat assessment if you really want to know if you're a ripped god of sport, or just another fat bastard. :twisted:
  • doyler78
    doyler78 Posts: 1,951
    As rb1956 says on its own it may highlight a weight problem however even for the pretty sedentary BMI has rather fallen out of favour in the UK amongst health professionals. The tool of choice now is hip to waist ratio.

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