Is BMI a good measure?

[chefmel]

I know that BMI (body mass index) is often what is used to measure whether or not you are the right and healthy weight or if you are underweight or overweight or obese, but is it really that accurate? I have a bodybuilder brother in law who has a huge BMI even though he has less than 10 percent body fat. Can it be trusted as a measure?

[anne]

I don't think that it has laser precision or anything but I think that it's accurate enough. Maybe it's just designed for the "average" person. A body builder has a different kind of lifestyle and physique. The typical balance of the amount of muscle compared to everything else in the body isn't there when it's a bodybuilder.

I think that if you calculate your BMI and use it with common sense and your doctor's help, then it's a pretty good guide. I think that mine is about accurate with where I stand.

[tracy1976]

If you're not trying to be a supermodel or a body builder, then it's probably a good ballpark measure to give you an idea of where you stand.

I know that doctors and health insurance companies both use this as a guide to help to know if an individual is within the proper healthy range of weight that is right for that age, gender, and height. So I guess it can't be too far off the mark. So for the average person, I suppose it should be considered a helpful tool instead of something set in stone.

[gottachange]

Yeah I'd always heard BMI doesn't work when muscle mass is high

[alicemenezes]

Yes I believe that the BMI really work. Ideally the BMI should be around 25. If it crosses 30 or above it is near being overweight and 40 is seriously obese.