How accurate of an indicator of health is the BMI?

[LouAvul]

For example, obviously the "calculator" cannot differentiate between muscle and fat. If one walks regularly and has stronger legs (for carrying weight) than a sedentary person, how might the calculator factor in those differences?

[Ransomed]

I guess that would be my question. What % of the population does it mess up on? What % of the population has the physiques that it can’t handle?

FReegards

[greatvikingone]

Also, people should know that heritage matters in bmi. Asian healthy bmi is 18.5-22.5.

For those who aren’t interested in being encouraged by a bmi calculator to eat better and exercise more, don’t heed it. It’s still a valuable tool for physicians to try to help patients.

[LouAvul]

It's winter and I went in for my regular checkup. The check-in MA asked me to get on the scale. Keep in mind, it's still winter.

I've got boots on. Long johns. Jeans. T-shirt. Shirt. Heavy winter coat. Hat. Gun belt. Holster. Sidearm. Wallet, keys, change, etc.

But that weight is the weight that went into my chart and is the weight they used for the BMI calc.

Not particularly precise measurements.

[njmaugbill]

Probably useless. Sometime during the Clinton admin, these standards were changed, making just about EVERYONE obese.