Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Body Mass Index - How Reliable?
N/A | 07/15/13 | fwdude

Posted on 07/15/2013 9:39:52 AM PDT by fwdude

In my efforts to be prepared for the civil unrest that is undoubtedly coming, I'm on a mission to get into better shape in my early fifties, and have revisited the health measure called Body Mass Index (BMI.) Just needing the input from some of you who agree or disagree with this seemingly arbitrary calculation.

It seems to be absolutely ridiculous to me in one sense. In my healthiest lean days I was still considered "overweight" according to the BMI calculation. Now, I'm considered "obese," when anyone looking at me would never describe me as such. If I got down just to the high end of the acceptable weight range, I would look like a famine-ravished Ethiopian.

The calculation for BMI:

BMI = mass(lbs)/height²(in.) x 703

The interpretation charts follows:

BMI below 18.5 is underweight, from 18.5-24.9 is normal, 25-29.9 is overweight, and 30 and over is "obese."

Are there other qualifying factors I should consider when looking at my raw BMI rating? These raw numbers seem bogus to me.

Thanks, health FReepers.


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: bmi; diet; health; obesity
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-60 last
To: fwdude

Weak, sickly, emaciated populations provide less resistance to the progressive takeover of your liberty and wealth.


41 posted on 07/15/2013 11:02:41 AM PDT by No Socialist
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: fwdude
and 30 and over is "obese."

so, I'm not overweight, I'm undertall.

42 posted on 07/15/2013 11:13:38 AM PDT by wbill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: qam1
Buddy of mine met Arnold in an airport. It was in the late 80s, right at the height (pun intended) of his popularity.

He was amazed at how small Arnold was. The film editors must've had to work overtime to project his larger than life persona.

43 posted on 07/15/2013 11:18:02 AM PDT by wbill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: fwdude

BMI is the dumbest measure, ever.

I have about 9% body fat (you can see 8 abs). I have a 34 inch waist.

I also deadlift 495 for 3, bench 405 for 6, squat (ass to ground) 520 for 5, do 15 pullups no stop, and easily can run a mile in under 7 minutes.

I’m morbidly obese per BMI.


44 posted on 07/15/2013 11:19:32 AM PDT by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wbill

Arnold is 6’2”.

You must be thinking of Stallone.


45 posted on 07/15/2013 11:21:56 AM PDT by SeaHawkFan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: qam1

Third from the left, standing, and far right both have mental BMI’s way beyond obese squared.


46 posted on 07/15/2013 11:25:59 AM PDT by DPMD
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Jewbacca

Congratulations! Obamacare will require that your BMI be reported to HHS every year to track you, and most likely you will be penalized for your fantastic health. Your doctor will be required track your success in reducing your BMI to their satisfaction, and report to HHS for further instructions.


47 posted on 07/15/2013 11:29:21 AM PDT by Bluebird Singing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: SeaHawkFan

Looks like Arnold has been lying about his height.

Just read where he more like 5’10”; at best.


48 posted on 07/15/2013 11:30:12 AM PDT by SeaHawkFan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: Vendome; wbill; SeaHawkFan

The claims for Arnold’s Height on the internet range from 5’6 to 6’2

The Indian guy to the Left of him is 6’3” and Carl Weathers to the right is 6’1”

If you were to move Arnold “Down the Hill” he looks like he would definitely be a few inches shorter.

Jesse is 6’5” I guess that’s why he at the bottom of the hill


49 posted on 07/15/2013 11:41:09 AM PDT by qam1 (There's been a huge party. All plates and the bottles are empty, all that's left is the bill to pay)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: qam1; wbill; SeaHawkFan

Like I said, he was definitely taller than me.


50 posted on 07/15/2013 11:46:12 AM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously, you won't live through it anyway)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: qam1; SeaHawkFan; wbill
In the 80's I used to work out Dave Draper's gymn in Santa Cruz.
 
He was about my height, as was Frank Zane(That's who I always wanted to like)
 
Arnold is taller than all them.
 
 
BTW, I was working out one day and realized, half way through my workout, that Draper was still doing Abs on the pull up bar.  That's 30 some odd minutes!
 
Asked him how I could do it and he explained it wasn't necessary unless I was going to become a body builder.
 
I never wanted to be as big as these guys so I never did more than 300 reps in a workout.

51 posted on 07/15/2013 11:51:11 AM PDT by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously, you won't live through it anyway)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: qam1

I also noticed that you can’t see Arnold’s feet behind the guy kneeling in front. Arnold was obviously standing on something. In addition, I don’t thin is was an accident the kneeling guy was directly in front of Arnold and not centered in the picture.


52 posted on 07/15/2013 11:51:44 AM PDT by SeaHawkFan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: fwdude

BMI was designed to analyze populations. If you want an easy measure of how obese 100 million people are, then BMI is useful. It was never intended for individuals. Any doctor who uses BMI on an individual is wearing a flashing neogn on he head that reads, “MORON!”

Want to know if you have fat to lose? Look in the mirror. At 55, and at 5’7-8” & 175 lbs, I could afford to lose 15 lbs. If I got down to 155, I wouldn’t be ripped, but I’d be close to it. 160 would be about prime for general health. For me, and my build. Back when I didn’t lift weights, that figure would have been 135-140.


53 posted on 07/15/2013 11:52:44 AM PDT by Mr Rogers (Liberals are like locusts...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mr Rogers

Sorry about the spelling errors. That what happens when you multitask. Hopefully I didn’t send any FR posts to work...

:>)


54 posted on 07/15/2013 11:55:56 AM PDT by Mr Rogers (Liberals are like locusts...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: fwdude

I grew up in gymnastics. The more muscle we developed the more our coaches told us we needed to drop weight because our BMI was high. It wasn’t until my college coach took the time to measure body fat percentage (underwater weighing) that I realized what total bunk BMI is.


55 posted on 07/15/2013 11:56:01 AM PDT by Scotswife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fwdude
At 6 feet tall since I was in my teens I was,for years,in the vicinity of 170 (after BCT) to 180 (in my early 40’s).Then my hip went bad,I found it difficult to exercise and got as high as 240.Since then I've lost,and gained,and lost again a lot of weight and am currently at 190,which is close to a “normal” weight for me.Today,my blood sugars are (much) better,my blood pressure is (much) better and,overall,I feel *much* better than I did at 240.
56 posted on 07/15/2013 12:06:41 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (The Civil Servants Are No Longer Servants...Or Civil.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gay State Conservative

I couldn’t break above 196 all the way through my 30’s. Then I hit the mid-40’s and slowly have been gaining, up to my high of 247. Have lost almost 10 lbs since then, and am aiming at 200-205, which puts me in the low “overweight” category of BMI.


57 posted on 07/15/2013 12:12:22 PM PDT by fwdude ( You cannot compromise with that which you must defeat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: Scotswife

Wrestlers have the opposite issue, trying to lose too much weight. Our coaches were good with the calipers and they’d tell us not to lose any more.


58 posted on 07/15/2013 3:42:08 PM PDT by Straight Vermonter (Posting from deep behind the Maple Curtain)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: Straight Vermonter

I married a wrestling coach. What a fine line that is!


59 posted on 07/15/2013 6:53:48 PM PDT by Scotswife
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: fwdude

woo hoo...

37.03

now i qualify for disability.


60 posted on 07/16/2013 1:23:26 PM PDT by teeman8r (Armageddon won't be pretty, but it's not like it's the end of the world.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-60 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson