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Should BMI be scrapped
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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According to the NHS I am classed as overweight and at a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes (apparently that's also because I'm mixed race). I also need to lose 5kg. (My weight goal is to put on another another 10kg while reducing body fat percentage, but that's not important to this subject)
I don't see how the BMI can categorise weight with the information it needs. Surely before anyone can be put into weight category you need to take into account muscle mass and body fat percentage?
Do you think the NHS should scrap the BMI? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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BMI has been widely discredited by health professionals around the world... even those on this country. This is because it only uses two parameters (height and weight) to establish its measurement. It makes no reference to muscle mass or body fat content.
However, Government and NHS management dont change it because there is no other easily applied measure of how over- or underweight someone is |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"According to the NHS I am classed as overweight and at a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes (apparently that's also because I'm mixed race). I also need to lose 5kg. (My weight goal is to put on another another 10kg while reducing body fat percentage, but that's not important to this subject)
I don't see how the BMI can categorise weight with the information it needs. Surely before anyone can be put into weight category you need to take into account muscle mass and body fat percentage?
Do you think the NHS should scrap the BMI?"
Will it stop me being a fat bastard? |
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BMI is total rubbish. It's something like weight divided by height or the other way round.
Muscle weighs more than fat and it doesn't take that into account. Somebody can have a lot of muscle mass and little fat but still be classed as obese.
Arnold Schwarzenegger for example would be deemed massively unhealthy with BMI. |
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Stated in an earlier thread....
At 7st I was a bag of bones with boobs and a butt. Only to be told by doctors my BMI is classed as obese, my reaction to them .... I’ve never felt so ill so how do you expect me to get my BMI to what you class as normal, cut off my boobs ?
I find BMI so inaccurate as they take no account of how you actually look, scrap it |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Not a fan. Apparently I was most at risk with obesity when I was doing ballet every day and not eating an awful lot.!
Don’t you think your frame has to be taken into consideration too? I swear I have heavy bones  |
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By *annGentMan
over a year ago
With a cracking view |
There used to be three height/weight charts, one each for small, medium and large frame ...
According to BMI, I should be 12.5 stone ...
The fittest I've been, when I joined the Forces, was 14.5 stone ...
I'm large framed, and I fitted neatly into the old charts system ... |
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I thought it was one of those things that was useful on population levels but isn't helpful person to person. But because it's cheap it's used widely.
I get a bit of haranguing from doctors about my weight until I actually say things like "size 14 and muscular". Then I go from being fat and stupid to maybe worth listening to about my health  (and it comes up no matter what my health complaint is, it seems. If I weigh over 70kg - spoiler, I do - I'm less trustworthy/knowledgeable about my throat or my chronic conditions, or my mental health, or my pain) |
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It is very useful but we must rem_mber that it serves as a guideline. It isn't to be taken as gospel.
The same as when you have a baby, your baby will be compared to the baby equivalent of BMI. It's a general purpose thing and it's good for that.
Let's say we have a guy who is 6ft but weighs 100kg, his weight will exceed the BMI healthy bracket, but this assumes that the weight of the excess tissue is from fat. In which case, BMI is correct!
It doesn't assume that the guy is body builder! It's not designed for use by athletes. It's a general benchmark for the general population.
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By *urflrCouple
over a year ago
wirral |
It’s a good indicator in those people at risk of malnutrition such as the elderly but I had my height measured this week at an appointment and have gone from 5’5” ten years ago to 5’4”! Lost an inch in height for no apparent reason other than being in my mid 40’s. Apparently it happens as you get older. So has changed my BMI, utter bollocks! |
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It may be fine if it's coupled with a simple explannation and only used as a first screening tool, before accurate assessment tools.
Assessment is also only good if people know what to do with the information and how to become healthier, if there's an issue. |
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By *zQTWoman
over a year ago
Somewhere |
BMI is utter nonsense .... in a past life (not so long ago) I went down to a sis 8, flat stomach, wasn’t fat at all. BMI? Overweight.... 
I am now classed as extremely obese  but wth |
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By *hunky GentMan
over a year ago
Maldon and Peterborough |
"BMI is utter nonsense .... in a past life (not so long ago) I went down to a sis 8, flat stomach, wasn’t fat at all. BMI? Overweight....
I am now classed as extremely obese but wth "
You've got an amazing figure. Xxx |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Scrap bmi
My daughter was obese! No ounce of fat She had flat waist 5ft8 11 stone solid muscle thru swimming at age 12.. Now 15. Still swimming.not fat
Needs to look at waist or total body fat percentage |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Scrap bmi
My daughter was obese! No ounce of fat She had flat waist 5ft8 11 stone solid muscle thru swimming at age 12.. Now 15. Still swimming.not fat
Needs to look at waist or total body fat percentage"
BMI is the worst health measurement ever designed.
Takes zero account of mass, muscle, or body fat. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Scrap bmi
My daughter was obese! No ounce of fat She had flat waist 5ft8 11 stone solid muscle thru swimming at age 12.. Now 15. Still swimming.not fat
Needs to look at waist or total body fat percentage"
Oh... and last time I checked, BMI doesn’t measure cholesterol levels. The silent killer. |
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The original BMI calculation was created by a Belgian in the 1830’s, so doctors today are using something 200 years old as a diagnostic tool.
Leeches will be making a comeback to the NHS next.
However, BMI was never originally deemed appropriate for individual measurement, I was an indicator for population studies. |
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"The original BMI calculation was created by a Belgian in the 1830’s, so doctors today are using something 200 years old as a diagnostic tool.
Leeches will be making a comeback to the NHS next.
However, BMI was never originally deemed appropriate for individual measurement, I was an indicator for population studies."
The NHS does use leeches as far as I know |
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"The original BMI calculation was created by a Belgian in the 1830’s, so doctors today are using something 200 years old as a diagnostic tool.
Leeches will be making a comeback to the NHS next.
However, BMI was never originally deemed appropriate for individual measurement, I was an indicator for population studies.
The NHS does use leeches as far as I know"
I thought that was just the chief executives sucking the life blood from it. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I am "obese" but my weight is mainly in my butt and boobs, my waist is 34" which i see no concern with.
I pay no attention, I dont have any weight related health issues and never had a complaint visually |
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"The original BMI calculation was created by a Belgian in the 1830’s, so doctors today are using something 200 years old as a diagnostic tool.
Leeches will be making a comeback to the NHS next.
However, BMI was never originally deemed appropriate for individual measurement, I was an indicator for population studies.
The NHS does use leeches as far as I know
I thought that was just the chief executives sucking the life blood from it."
 |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I am "obese" but my weight is mainly in my butt and boobs, my waist is 34" which i see no concern with.
I pay no attention, I dont have any weight related health issues and never had a complaint visually "
You look more than healthy to me x |
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Waist to height ratio is a much better indicator than BMI.
It is simpler to use as a rough guide and a more accurate indicator of potential risk of obesity related illnesses.
Rough guide, if your waist is less than or equal to half your height, you’re a healthy weight.
Complicated version, using the same unit of measurement (cm or inches) divide your waist measurement by your height.
0.492 or less for a woman and you’re a healthy weight, 0.536 or less for men. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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My cardiologist said BMI was a load of bollox.
I asked if my weight was a factor in my condition he said no, and that as my cholestrol levels were fine he wasn't going to entertain it.
I asked about BMI and he said no, ignore that, your weight is fine.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I think it's probably in need of a rethink since it's been around so long.
I'm overweight (slightly) and I think that's accurate. But I agree it's useless for people that have lots of muscle. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Waist alone is also a simple indicator. And that’s the measured value, not your jeans size!
https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/lifestyle/why-is-my-waist-size-important/ |
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