THINNER: Why Harvard Wants You To Be Unhealthily Thin.

The New Republic ^ | September 11, 2007 | Paul Campos

[Straight Vermonter]

the BMI has all sorts of limitations — it’s no use for athletes or the elderly.

Very true. When I was in the best shape of my life I was right in the middle of the "overweight" BMI. The scale takes no consideration of muscle weight vs fat weight.

[Gabz]

You couldn’t see immense people at Wal-mart when there were no Wal-marts!

LOL!!!!!

When I was in HS and for a while in college I worked in ceramics, wholesale and retail. We used to attend an annual trade show in Asbury Park, NJ every year. Back then we referred to those immense people wearing stretch pants that you now see in WalMart "Ceramic People."

[RockinRight]

Then you’re one slender dude/dudette.

;-)

I’ve found BMI to be nuts. I’m 5’7 and male. To quote Tax-chick, at the “low risk” level on that chart I’d look like a prison camp survivor. At the upper range (the “green” 160) I think I’d look good. But my weightloss goals actually put me in the yellow category, and when I weighed that before, I looked good and didn’t have any flab to speak of, either.

[MamaT]

My young children call me a health freak...and we drink whole milk straight from the farm, eat lots of red meat, real butter, coconut oil, etc. What we don’t eat is a lot of sugar or artificial fats. There are many studies proving the dangers of so called “healthy” low fat diets. Sally Fallon is an author who has written numerous books addressing the myths of healthy eating.

BTW...after my high fat diet I weigh 119 pounds and my BMI is 21, should I be worried?

[Gabz]

Yes, I am a bit on the skinny side.....

I’m 5’10”, female, and am in the “white” at 120. I have jeans I bought in HS that I still wear, and I graduated 29 years ago :)

I blew up to about 160 about 20 years ago and looked like a tall porky pig.......I prefer the way I normally look!!!!

[RockinRight]

5'10, female, graduated in '78??

Are you this woman?

(I hope you watched "That 70s Show!")

[darkangel82]

I’m 5’7” and around 148, and already I’m noticing clothes being too loose. I try to stay around 150-160, but I don’t obsess with it.

[Doomonyou]

I could lose a little but not 30lbs!

Same here, I'd be losing some muscle mass if I lost 30 lbs. This must be the chart for 18 year olds.

[Doomonyou]

I’m 5’7” and around 148, and already I’m noticing clothes being too loose. I try to stay around 150-160...

I've got 10 I could give ya!

[Gabz]

Are you this woman?

I only wish!!!!!!!

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

You’re right — weight should be proportional to the cube, not the square of height (assuming that width and thickness change in proportion to height). I can’t figure out why the BMI is based on the square of height.

Given the overall difference in male and female heights, could this have been intended to make the scale “work” for both men and women? It seems to be a rather crude work-around, at best.

[Tax-chick]

I haven’t had a pair of jeans since three pregnancies ago! Maybe I’ll buy a pair this fall.