How important is BMI??

[Ivory]

I just used an internet BMI calculator and fiddled around with my current weight, my start weight and my goal weight, and even my goal weight falls into the "Obese" category. I am 221lbs now, and my goal weight is 184lbs. I got this from an ecocardiogram body fat % test I had done which said 184lbs would equate to 25% BF on me. So which is right? Is it better to aim for the BF% or the BMI ideal weight. Although I'm not sure I can get my body down to the weight that would have me be in the ideal BMI Range


I'm confused! HELP!!!!!!!!

[melissa07]

Go for the BF%. Ideal weight does not take into account the fact that you are an individual. You never want to try to take your weight to a level you feel uncomfortable with just to conform to some crazy standard. Your body fat % is a much better goal than your weight!!!

Sounds like you are doing great so far! Keep up the good work!

[razzle]

Every world-class strength-based athlete (american football players, hockey players, weightlifters, some boxers) would fall into the "obese" category in BMI.

It is merely a rough, rough estimate of health (and has little statistical or real-world correlation to good/poor health, until BMIs get above 40 and under 20 or so). I think BMI was a rough, rough way to take a stab at BF, considering what the average person with fairly poor LBM might be like.

A good measure of health is how you feel. Other pretty good measures, imo, are BP, triglyceride levels, HDL: LDL ratios, and fasting insulin levels. An okay measure is BF (again, for women, body fats of 30% are just as healthy as BF's of a more socially-acceptable 20%). The scale and BMI are pretty poor measures of health.

But all the numerical measures are far less valuable than the one you can give yourself by asking how you feel (physically, mentally, spiritually). If you're on track with your eating and exercise, you should feel terrific. :)