Is BMI racist ?

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 outta 3 ain't bad

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

Muscle mass and body fat are better indicators than BMI

 

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.

 

Not sure why it would be racist. But our current approach to obesity and heart health is antiquated!

 

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.

 

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.

 

I think there's a tuck swim suit in that avatar.

 

That’s interesting. Your height and weight are right there on the chart.

 

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.

 

Speaking of avatars.

 

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.

 

I consider that a good thing. Especially since people aren’t actually dying from being fat. Doctors should look to other indicators.

 

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

 

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.