bm-i don't think so

Many of you know that I'm big (pun intended) into health. The reason that I'm so big into health because I used to be overweight and unhealthy. My weight problem caused much misery in my life. I was always tired both physically and mentally. I am big on people being educated about health, like understanding how to read a food label and understanding health measurements. But there is one "health measurement" that I think should be thrown out: Body Mass Index (BMI).

BMI is calculated using a formula that includes an individual's height and weight. I'm not sure who came up with the formula, but it doesn't make any sense to me. Take a look and see what you think...

I can just picture a round table discussion of "health experts" trying to come up with this formula. I wonder how they decided on 703. Considering that this ridiculous formula is the foundation for BMI, it's no wonder I hate it so much. Anyway, let me finish trying to explain BMI before I continue bashing it. Following is the scale for what the resulting BMI number obtained from that equation mean:

So, once you get this randomly attributed number, you're supposed to match is up with the above scale to determine your level of health. I can't be the only one that finds this solution ridiculous right? I mean, this only takes height and weight into account. This does not quantify what effect muscle or bone structure or gender might have on an individual's weight. This system might be efficient if everyone were the same body type, but we are most assuredly not. Thus, I contend that BMI is irrelevant as it would only be an accurate assessment for some people (I would argue this to be a small percentage). According to BMI, Arnold Schwarzenegger was obese for each of his Mr. Olympia titles. I have a friend who is clearly a normal sized individual based on the ol' eye test. But when he weighed in using Wii Fit Plus, it showed his Mii as a hefty guy. The two simply did not agree.

Let me give you an example of this formula in action and show you where my BMI rates on the scale. I weigh roughly 163 lbs. (I am extremely satisfied with this weight). I am about 5'9" in height or 69 inches. Plugging my stats into the BMI formula, the equation would look like this:

So, according to my BMI and its attached scale I am "normal" but just barely. The recommended BMI is 22, which means I would have to be 148.8 lbs. I don't know any normal person who thinks I should drop down to 148.8 lbs. But if I were to follow the BMI scale, that's exactly what I'd have to do. That's what the Wii Fit Plus always tells me. Since my wife is the same height, it recommends her to be the same weight as me. I'm not sure I'd be okay with weighing the same as my wife if we both opted to follow BMI's recommendation.

So, if I don't believe in BMI, what health measurement do I use? I believe in the % body fat scale. Our bodies needs so much muscle and so much fat to be at its peak efficiency. I believe this scale is a good indicator of where we need to be since its takes both fat and muscle into account in its formula (which is a different subject for a different day).

Buy into BMI if you so choose, but do so at your own risk. That's my opinion anyway. Some say, "BMI is the key!" I say, "BM-I don't think so!"