scrap bmi tests?

[nix-j-c]

i think bmi tests should be scrapped. they don't take into consideration; the fittness of the person or the muscularity (if thats a word) of a person.

this means that many top sportspeople would turn out to be obese.

i think that a new test which envolves some kind of fitness test should replace the bmi charts. who agrees?

[Schutzengel]

Aren't you supposed to be revising.

[pastafreak]

From wiki:

BMI can be calculated quickly and without expensive equipment. However, BMI categories do not take into account many factors such as frame size and muscularity.[9] The categories also fail to account for varying proportions of fat, bone, cartilage, water weight, and more.

Despite this, BMI categories are regularly regarded as a satisfactory tool for measuring whether sedentary individuals are "underweight," "overweight" or "obese" with various qualifications, such as: Individuals who are not sedentary being exempt - athletes, children, the elderly, the infirm, and individuals who are naturally endomorphic or ectomorphic (i.e., people who don't have a medium frame).

One basic problem, especially in athletes, is that muscle is denser than fat. Some professional athletes are "overweight" or "obese" according to their BMI - unless the number at which they are considered "overweight" or "obese" is adjusted upward in some modified version of the calculation. In children and the elderly, differences in bone density and, thus, in the proportion of bone to total weight can mean the number at which these people are considered underweight should be adjusted downward.

Obviously-BMI is more suited for measuring the general population -quickly and easily.....Whereas your suggestion of a fitness test would be difficult to implement-who would carry out such tests? it would just put more of a strain on the NHS,and would not really address the issue of weight in the same way.

[Ethel]

Skinfold calipers is the best way to measure body fat - they have been used by GPs for years and are far more accurate than BMI.

The BMI really is a pointless exercise.

[pastafreak]

I remember an ad campaign years ago-for Kellogue's Special K I think-it stated if you could "pinch an inch" then you were overweight.

[Ethel]

The truth is, pasta, if you can pinch more than an inch you've got a bonus.


:)

[nix-j-c]

well maybe adjusting the formula to work out your bmi which includes multiplying or dividing by the amount of exercise you do.

i'm not entirely sure how this would be done but if it could then it would be a fairer test.

i am revising - a question came up about obesity and bmi stuff in my revision guide.

[sunflower71]

dont surpose anyone has the link or know where it is:
I'm looking for some photos where it said people were 'overweight' according to there BMI but they looked fine. thanks

[nix-j-c]

no.

sorry.