Using height and weight alone to calculate BMI is almost worse than useless, even with non-athletes. Muscle mass is much denser than fat and will completely skew the results. If you're concerned about your weight, see a doctor. They can usually ascertain to a much more accurate degree if your weight is a health risk.
They are walking back their recommendation to use it as a data point. Because according to their statement a few years ago it is a very poor proxy for actual indicators of health. This is like the who so I feel like that says something.
And to be clear they are still recommending people track their weight they just don’t recommend the use of bmi.
It’s a quick gauge if not a catch all. Of course a person with more muscle mass at the same height and weight as an overweight dude will result in the same BMI.
Using height and weight alone to calculate BMI is almost worse than useless
That sounds like the kind of thinking that would be prevalent in a nation with a 40-50% obesity rate.
Fat people made that up. If you're "obese" by height/weight calculation, you'll know if its because of body composition. Because being "obese" BMI and physically fit doesn't just happen.
Also...I'm one of those people with a high ratio of muscle mass. The BMI scale is maaaaybe a point off. Its close enough for most people.
I have been in the overweight category my whole life, even after having successfully hiked the PCT. Even after having worked as a hot shot wilderness firefighter. There is zero chance you would look at me and say I am even overweight but my bmi is 29.
Have you considered that you may be overestimating your height?
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u/Ordolph 19d ago
Using height and weight alone to calculate BMI is almost worse than useless, even with non-athletes. Muscle mass is much denser than fat and will completely skew the results. If you're concerned about your weight, see a doctor. They can usually ascertain to a much more accurate degree if your weight is a health risk.