As a freshly qualified PT 23 years ago, I used to knock BMI and “height-weight charts”.
Primarily because other FitPros did and I assumed they were right.
And, in retrospect, because I was fatter then than I realised.
They, and others, will point out “it puts bodybuilders and rugby players down as obese”.
I’d heard that so many times, I’d accepted it as truth.
But, like many things we accept, there’s actually little evidence of it.
There’s a couple of key questions that should be asked of that statement:
1. What percentage of the population are bodybuilders and rugby players?
2. Out of those, what percentage have an obese BMI and a none obese body fat percentage?
I’ll be honest, I’ve struggled to find definitive answers to either of those questions.
I would image number one is under 10% though.
Probably under 5.
For number two I’ve found studies that say numbers around 15% of rugby players have an obese BMI (over 30).
And I can’t imagine that every single one of them has a none obese BF% (ie: they are actually carrying a lot of body fat, not just muscle).
As for bodybuilders?
Hard to be mega accurate.
But, a quick Google suggests the Rock has a BMI of just over 30 (technically “obese”).
How many people do you see on a daily basis that are built like The Rock?
None I’d guess.
They clearly exist.
But there’s not all that many of them.
So it’s probably safe to say the proportion of the population that are rugby players or bodybuilders and have a BMI in the obese category, and a BF% that’s none obese……….
Is under 1%.
So, maybe a good question to ask when people tell you “BMI puts rugby players and bodybuilders down as obese” is……..
“Are you a rugby player or bodybuilder?”
And, if they are – “Do you have an “obese” BMI and “none obese” bodyfat percentage?”
A few years ago, I number crunched every single InBody analysis we’ve ever done.
And I found the percentage of our members who would still be overweight on BMI if their body fat percentage dropped to the recommended ranges to be……….
0.2%.
The percentage who would still be obese?
0%.
So, whilst far from perfect, that suggests that BMI (and height – weight charts) are more accurate than we might realise and that I used to think.
Perfect?
No.
A quick and simple tool that can hep most people realise where they are?
Yes.
As always, your BMI and BF% (along with everything else) is entirely your choice.
No one should tell you what yours ‘should’ be.
Least of all me.
But……………
Just letting you know that………….
Despite what many will tell you……………..
BMI is actually a pretty reasonable measurement.
Much love,
Jon ‘BMF’ Hall
P.S. If you want data driven information over emotional reaction along with none judgemental support and guaranteed satisfaction, then you’ll find that at www.myrise.co.uk/apply
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RISE in Macclesfield was established in 2012 and specialise in Group Personal Training weight loss programmes for those that don’t like the gym and find diets boring and restrictive!
