How seriously do you take your BMI (body mass index)?

[Mod-Degrassi]

I went to the doctor today and I got weighed. I was aware that I'd put on weight this year, but I was a bit unpleasantly surprised to see the figure (I don't own scales).

I felt compelled to calculate my BMI when I got back from the appointment (doctor did not mention BMI nor tell me to lose weight) and I'm in the overweight range.

I would have to lose 8kgs to get back in to the healthy range.

Do you personally...

a) take BMI seriously and try to stick to the guidelines
b) see it as a general guide, but it's not one size fits all
c) not take it seriously
d) think it's a bad guide
e) other

I have been actively watching what I eat for about 2 weeks so far and making more effort to exercise. Not sure I'm going to work towards a goal weight though. The way my clothes fit is a better guide for me personally.

[Beary]

I go with B.

I think waist measurements is probably the most useful to see if you’re healthy?

[Loh4]

I went to the doctor today and I got weighed. I was aware that I'd put on weight this year, but I was a bit unpleasantly surprised to see the figure (I don't own scales).

I felt compelled to calculate my BMI when I got back from the appointment (doctor did not mention BMI nor tell me to lose weight) and I'm in the overweight range.

I would have to lose 8kgs to get back in to the healthy range.

Do you personally...

a) take BMI seriously and try to stick to the guidelines
b) see it as a general guide, but it's not one size fits all
c) not take it seriously
d) think it's a bad guide
e) other

I have been actively watching what I eat for about 2 weeks so far and making more effort to exercise. Not sure I'm going to work towards a goal weight though. The way my clothes fit is a better guide for me personally.

I would have to say that I float somewhere between A and B. I am currently also in the overweight range according to BMI as I’ve still got a fair bit of weight to lose following my last pregnancy.

I’m not entirely sure how it gets worked out and what deems you overweight other than it just looking at your age, height, weight, and then deciding if that doesn’t fit the criteria to be a healthy weight.

So I don’t necessarily take it for gospel but do try to remain/trying to get back into the healthy range more from the perspective of heart health in the Longrun. I can’t imagine that been overweight for a long period of time would be great on heart health, joints and could lead to other health issues.

Whilst the BMI is more of a general guideline to deem whether your underweight, healthy, overweight, obese etc. I think if you were concerned it would be more beneficial to get an overall picture in terms of knowing your body fat percentage and muscle mass etc. As the BMI calculator may say your overweight but your body fat could be not a healthy amount.

I think if you are leading a healthy lifestyle, and having things in moderation and are active try not to stress too much and like you say do what feels right for you. You know your body.

[LoveLivesHere]

E
I see it as a tool. A flawed one but probably the best one we have for a quick and simple guide.

Imo it should never be used as the only tool to judge a persons weight.

[PipersMummy]

D) because it paints everyone with the same brush. You can be super fit and muscly and be obese according to the bmi. However for me, I know my results are somewhat accurate as I am neither fit nor muscly

[SJ565]

B

[hakuna matata]

B

[BigRedV]

B

I think if you lead a healthy lifestyle then it shouldn’t be taken too seriously.

I would probably be in the overweight range but I am strong and muscly. I have very muscly legs.

I see a personal trainer twice a week on top of walking my dog nearly every night. Even just today I had a weights session with her and I did 5 squats with 60kg on the bar. She told me that’s what she can lift and I’m even stronger and can lift more than her with some things.

[gorgeousgeorge]

I see it as a guide but not a very useful one. I've aaaalways been in the underweight category but I'm healthy and eat normally... so seeing as it says that I'm underweight but it's just the weight i am when I am healthy and same as I have always been, I'm skeptical about it. I am the same as you, if the clothes i like and normally wear are comfortable and fit well/look good then I'm happy.

[kiwimum890]

I kind of take it with a grain of salt. There are so many body shapes we can’t all fit in the same mould.

A Dr years ago said to me that you can calculate your height and give or take 5kg either side....

Eg: if you are 170cm then your ideal weight is 70kg but you would be fine in the range from 65-75kg. I try and stick with that theory. It does technically sit within that BMI model though.

I try and stay within that range.