BMI is not accurate, we're actually fatter than we thought (body mass index, doctor)

[tvdxer]

Maybe we need to relax a little bit regarding fat? On the BMI scale I'm about a 29, and while I am certainly overweight, I do not feel fat. When I was a BMI of 37, I was certainly too heavy and needed to lose weight, but if you're a 25 or 26 on the BMI scale, I don't think weight loss is imminent.

Honestly, I see little wrong with a bit of a paunch on a man or a bit of saddle bags on women. They'll come in handy for the famine.

[VelcroQueen]

Having a BMI of 23.7, I still have to shower, etc. I know the real truth. But it is a celebration for me, since I am at my lowest weight in decades. Let me just exult in this!

[tigerlillydownunder]

Originally Posted by AnonChick

My health care provider doesn't measure my BMI at all. She looks at my body and face, checks my weight, makes note of my behavior in the office, my age and height, asks me about my exercise routine, my caloric intake, and my overall sense of well-being. She uses all of that, combined, to determine if I would benefit from more exercise, less fattening foods, more vitamins, more sleep, etc. etc. etc.

If she sees me twitching a lot, she'd probably ask if I was getting enough sleep, or if I'd been taking B12 or diet pills. If she sees bags under my eyes she'd ask me about my stress levels. If she sees that my pants are straining at the waist, she'll ask if I've been overeating, or if I'm close to menstruating. If the scale shows I've lost 25 pounds and she can actually see some abdominal muscle definition to the side of my belly pooch, she'll congratulate me on trying to improve my fitness, and encourage me to keep doing it.

The BMI thing is just this device they use at the gym. I don't put stock in it as an accurate measurement of -anything.- I do, however, know that when I was feeling particularly unhealthy, when I was definitely visibly fat-laden, when I was obviously out of shape because of the rolls of fat hanging off my belly and the fact that my bra was going up -another- back size, and I had no muscle tone to speak of in my upper body at all...

That - whatever number that BMI was at, needed to be lower.

And - after noticing that number creeping down month after month, I recognized that it was a motivating factor in my adventure to fitness. Whatever that number -means-...and you know it has to mean SOMETHING or it would be a random number every time I used it..

whatever that number means, it is better for me, when it's lower than what it was when I first used it.

And that is really all anyone needs to know about the BMI. If you are healthy, and fit, and not obese, and feeling good, then measure your BMI. Whatever that number is? Try to stick to it.

If you're feeling lousy, and skinny, and weak, and you have no strength or stamina, and you know you're underweight, measure your BMI. Whatever that number is? Try to bump it up a few points.

If you're feeling lousy, weak, you have no strength or stamina, and you know you're obese, flabby, overweight..measure your BMI. Whatever that number is? Try to reduce it a few points.

It's not rocket science, but it's a good general guideline.

You and I have clearly different 'health care providers'. (seriously....Health care provider?.....When did it become politically incorrect to call them doctors? )

You're lucky....yours is good if s/he takes everything into consideration before passing a judgement. I always thought that was how it was supposed to go: take a complete patient history, ask about current issues/homeostasis, do a physical examination, compare the findings of the exam and the history, and make a diagnosis based upon ALL of the factors. Unfortunately a lot of them don't--they get too hung up on the black and white numbers up front, to pay any attention to the various shades of grey in the background. well, that has been my experience as both a fat and thin person.

I recently changed to a new GP (I'm new to the area) and the very first thing she did was work out my bloody BMI, before she even asked why I was there. I asked her why she did that, and she said that 'it provides a good starting point for your issue, why you're here today'.

I said, 'oh that's good. My BMI should come in very handy for getting the referral to the dermatologist.'

[AnonChick]

I use the term health care provider, because if I said "doctor" some people would say "oh well doctors are all idiots" or "well of course, you used a doctor. My office only lets me see the PA." Or "you must have a chiropractor or naturopath, THEY'RE doctors too you know."

So health care provider covers all licensed medical professionals who are qualified to diagnose and treat illness. No matter what label someone on CD wants to apply to them.

[tigerlillydownunder]

Originally Posted by AnonChick

I use the term health care provider, because if I said "doctor" some people would say "oh well doctors are all idiots" or "well of course, you used a doctor. My office only lets me see the PA." Or "you must have a chiropractor or naturopath, THEY'RE doctors too you know."

So health care provider covers all licensed medical professionals who are qualified to diagnose and treat illness. No matter what label someone on CD wants to apply to them.

Well I suppose I can't argue with that logic, and really it should have tipped me off that you were possibly referring to one of the '-opaths'. They generally appear to have more of a vested interest in those types of things (bags/circles under the eyes, skin pallor.....the more subtle clues that a GP, PA, or even a specialist pay no attention to at all). I mean, I think a lot of doctors are idiots (even more are just flat out jerks) but they're still doctors, by trade. I don't consider naturopaths to be doctors, per se, although many are, and same with chiro's, although I accept them to be valid medical professionals. Except homeopaths. I think they are flat out quacks. Homeopathy, IMO, is nothing more than a load of Moderator cut: anguage removed
and even in my most desperate hour I have never consulted a homeopath. I've got better ways to waste time and money, thanks.

[AnonChick]

My doctor is an MD. A "doctor-type doctor." I think back in the day before HMOs, she would've been called a General Practitioner (GP). They keep changing the terminology. Gets confusing, that's for sure. I think she has a specialty too but so far I haven't needed her for anything special. I do know that one of the partners in their office is an MD who specializes in allergies.

[tigerlillydownunder]

Originally Posted by AnonChick

My doctor is an MD. A "doctor-type doctor." I think back in the day before HMOs, she would've been called a General Practitioner (GP). They keep changing the terminology. Gets confusing, that's for sure. I think she has a specialty too but so far I haven't needed her for anything special. I do know that one of the partners in their office is an MD who specializes in allergies.

We still call a regular old doctor a GP or Family Practitioner here in Oz, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time before it changes. And I agree that they should stop changing it, because it does get confusing. Stop all this euphemistic language and call a spade a spade, or a doctor a doctor, rather!

[UnexpectedError]

Originally Posted by NorthStarDelight

BMI is a bunk measure - I have a BMI of 34, and everyone assures me that I'm not "obese", although that scale says I'm way over. And to think they want to lower the bar?!? Way to go, people, now you've just discouraged another million people from even trying to lose weight...just watch the obesity rate soar in the years to come.

I think they should just set the weight classifications on a rolling average, so that so that the majority of people fall into the "normal" weight range, regardless of what that average is - same thing with blood pressure, etc. To me, that'd make far more sense than setting the bar impossibly low for huge numbers of people, instead of doing the things that encourage people to adopt healthy habits.

Surely you are joking? Redefining unhealthy people as healthy just because they constitute the majority doesn't get rid of the health risks. An obese person by any other name is still at a higher risk for diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and cancer.

I don't know what sort of twisted logic you're using to reach the conclusion that calling a fat person normal will motivate them to work harder, while calling them obese would send them into a binge spiral of shame. Common sense suggests the opposite is true, that telling someone they're perfectly normal will take away any motivation to become healthier.

Don't kid yourself. BMI has its limitations and should only be used as a jumping off point for assessing health, but a BMI of 34 isn't healthy unless you're a bodybuilder and your weight is all muscle. I don't have the stats to back it up, but something tells me that over 65% of Americans aren't being classified as overweight or obese because they've been pumping too much iron.

[kayo_michael]

Sorry, but unless you can bench press your own weight, a BMI of 34 is fat. "Everyone" is just being nice by saying you are not.

[markymarc]

Imagine that, 25 years later body fat % might become a household concept. No, really.