Welcome home, fellow Gator.

The Gator Nation's oldest and most active insider community
Join today!

Is BMI racist ?

Discussion in 'Too Hot for Swamp Gas' started by ATLGATORFAN, Jun 22, 2023.

  1. l_boy

    l_boy 5500

    12,931
    1,730
    3,268
    Jan 6, 2009
    That’s true but I suspect it isn’t as inaccurate as many say it is. A dude puts on 30 lbs of fat, pumps up his pecs and biceps a bit then rails against BMI.
     
  2. docspor

    docspor GC Hall of Fame

    5,746
    1,829
    3,078
    Nov 30, 2010
    2 outta 3 ain't bad
     
    • Funny Funny x 2
  3. duggers_dad

    duggers_dad GC Hall of Fame

    16,123
    1,192
    2,088
    Jan 5, 2022
    BMI was originally used to track height/weight of the population over time. As BMI increased, so did life expectancy.

    Until a few years ago when deaths of despair were blamed for a slight downtick in life expectancy.

    Then in 2020 we started killing people, en masse, and life expectancy saw a pronounced downtick.
     
  4. tigator2019

    tigator2019 GC Hall of Fame

    1,445
    2,565
    1,873
    Dec 25, 2018
    In my head--- UF
    So what us your BMI? 28-29? Caliper testing?

    ‘no one who sees me’ - average joe maybe not best judge, me included

    Best way to get to an accurate number for body mass index is Dexa or DXA.

    otherwise its = to a fully dressed guy weighing in at publix.

    Im 6-3, 188. run 20 miles each weekend plus daily.24 BMI last checked
     
  5. duggers_dad

    duggers_dad GC Hall of Fame

    16,123
    1,192
    2,088
    Jan 5, 2022
    American’s obsession with weight is almost certainly a reason why they’ve gotten heavier and heavier over time.

    Back when I was a trainer I never worked with anyone (particularly white women) who didn’t feel like they were overweight and who hadn’t tried multiple diets over time.
     
  6. slocala

    slocala VIP Member

    3,044
    738
    2,028
    Jan 11, 2009
    BMI was developed in the 70’s. Big data is not showing us that many things we believed was straight garbage.

    fasting is where it is at.
     
  7. vaxcardinal

    vaxcardinal GC Hall of Fame

    7,143
    1,080
    2,043
    Apr 8, 2007
    Muscle mass and body fat are better indicators than BMI
     
    • Agree Agree x 3
  8. duggers_dad

    duggers_dad GC Hall of Fame

    16,123
    1,192
    2,088
    Jan 5, 2022
    Body fat is a good thing to have. And having extremely low levels of it is not a natural state of affairs.

    And I say this as a slim person.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  9. QGator2414

    QGator2414 VIP Member

    18,281
    1,568
    1,308
    Aug 24, 2009
    Ocala
    Not sure why it would be racist. But our current approach to obesity and heart health is antiquated!
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  10. ATLGATORFAN

    ATLGATORFAN Premium Member

    3,668
    955
    2,153
    Aug 10, 2015
    I’m at 29. We used to do the water tank years ago and I hovered around 12%but that was a while ago. We don’t wear Gi, and If you do BJJ you’ll see guys in rash guard shirts( look like tight under armor). Sparring Muay Thai rules and what most would consider UFC style sparring it’s not uncommon for guys to not wear shirts, so that’s what I mean by ‘anyone who sees me ‘. 20 miles a week would swell my Knees to grapefruits
     
  11. mrhansduck

    mrhansduck GC Hall of Fame

    4,813
    999
    1,788
    Nov 23, 2021
    I am sure some use it given that it’s been the subject of debate. I don’t recall my doctor ever mentioning BMI to me, and I’m big.
     
  12. homer

    homer GC Hall of Fame

    2,679
    837
    2,078
    Nov 2, 2015
    Not sure if racist.

    It’s been a thorn in my side forever.

    Saving grace for me during my doctor visits is my doctor is obese herself. Never mentions my weight.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  13. exiledgator

    exiledgator Gruntled

    11,080
    1,934
    3,128
    Jan 5, 2010
    Maine
    I think there's a tuck swim suit in that avatar.
     
    • Funny Funny x 2
  14. duggers_dad

    duggers_dad GC Hall of Fame

    16,123
    1,192
    2,088
    Jan 5, 2022
    That’s interesting. Your height and weight are right there on the chart.
     
  15. tilly

    tilly Superhero Mod. Fast witted. Bulletproof posts. Moderator VIP Member

    I was never someone who looked overweight, but I wasnt as strong and muscular as I once was. Over the past 5 years or so, I have weighed the same almost to the pound. BUT I have recaptured my desire to stay fit and I have been religious in the gym and I have converted much of the fat back to muscle.

    With muscle weighing more than fat you can actually have a worse bmi by getting in really good shape. it's silly when you think of it like that.

    Useless data.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Fistbump/Thanks! Fistbump/Thanks! x 1
  16. tilly

    tilly Superhero Mod. Fast witted. Bulletproof posts. Moderator VIP Member

    Speaking of avatars.
     
  17. mrhansduck

    mrhansduck GC Hall of Fame

    4,813
    999
    1,788
    Nov 23, 2021
    Yeah, my height isn't changing (not yet anyway) and I can look at a scale or look in the mirror. Not sure that the BMI calculation provides much useful information. It may be listed somewhere on my records but haven't bothered to look. Even if is, it's not something my doctor seems to focus on.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  18. duggers_dad

    duggers_dad GC Hall of Fame

    16,123
    1,192
    2,088
    Jan 5, 2022
    I consider that a good thing. Especially since people aren’t actually dying from being fat. Doctors should look to other indicators.
     
  19. vaxcardinal

    vaxcardinal GC Hall of Fame

    7,143
    1,080
    2,043
    Apr 8, 2007
    my doctor does a body composition test and it provides muscle mass and body fat percentages. At my last physical i had a 20 pound weight loss and a decrease in body fat and increase in muscle mass
     
  20. Gator715

    Gator715 GC Hall of Fame

    6,909
    846
    2,103
    Dec 6, 2015
    Not a doctor, but not sure if obesity itself causes death. It's the complications that come with obesity that are the issue. Things like knee problems, cardiac problems, respiratory problems, etc.

    Kind of like saying "smoking doesn't kill people." Technically correct depending on how you look at it. But it without a doubt increases the likelihood of certain health conditions which ultimately cause death. Cancer, emphysema, etc.