What's even the point of BMI?!
Question: I mean, why does the whole BMI thing exist? Why doesn't everybody and the government go by body fat percentage? I just calculated my BMI, and if I gain about 2 or 3 more pounds, I'm considered overweight. Although I'm about 13% body fat, and I know that I am no where near overweight. I just don't see the point in a BMI existing...
Answers: I mean, why does the whole BMI thing exist? Why doesn't everybody and the government go by body fat percentage? I just calculated my BMI, and if I gain about 2 or 3 more pounds, I'm considered overweight. Although I'm about 13% body fat, and I know that I am no where near overweight. I just don't see the point in a BMI existing...
I use BMI with caution. I try to ask the person if they are physically active. If they say no, then the BMI is generally in the ball park.
this is very much N/A to active people who have alot of weight in muscle. but that was just a comprehensive way to see if people were overweight. it is not meant to be exact.
thats why we have extensive blood tests to do, to see if people are over weight such as lipid panels.
I agree with you though. thanks for the great question.
to let you know if you are in a healthy/normal weight category for you age/height.
It just a general average that is not the best tool. If you have other means of checking your body fat, go for those methods.
BMI is nothing more than a simple and quite useful way to approximate one's "fatness" or "leanness." It is not intended to be an accurate measure of body fat percentage, "lean body mass," or any other physiological parameter.
Even if you don't see the point, others do, including many physicians and other clinicians who use it to monitor and advise patients. And it gives their patients a simple way to monitor their status, too.
Forget it and go your own merry way.