Obesity needs a new definition

[Ming the Merciless]

Distinguishing between clinical obesity and obesity.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c79dz14d30ro

 

[Drago]

Well, duh!

 

[Sixmile]

We already have OCD, OBCD, do we need COBCD?

 

[Baldy]

The problem with the BMI index is that fat is less dence than muscles. Put many Olympic athletes statistics into the BMI calculator and they'd be classed as obese. Well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. It's just relaxed muscles, honestly.

 

[Dogtrousers]

The fundamental problem with BMI is that it was never intended to be used for individuals. It was to be applied to populations and to measure overall trends. But because it's so simple to calculate and is an ok-ish measure for many/most people it got pressed into use for individuals. That's not what it was designed for.

 

[Drago]

The problem with the BMI index is that fat is less dence than mussel. Put many Olympic athletes statistics into the BMI calculator and they'd be classed as obese. Well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. It's just relaxed mussel, honestly.

It was only ever intended for use with groups of sedentary subjects, and the first tranch of data used to develop the system was gathered in the late 1940s when rationing of many foods was still in place, thus providing flawed information from the outset.

 

[DCLane]

SWMBO is a Dietitian and has always used skinfold measurements instead of BMI. Apparently it's a better indicator of health.

 

[Dogtrousers]

The problem is that what I think people are after is a simple magic formula that has gives an output saying "no change needed" / "change X recommended" / "change Y needed". Something you can build into a simple web page with a couple of user inputs (like so many BMI test pages do)

But without a whole load of other info about the individual - build, age, ethnicity, medical history, sex, blah blah there is no such formula. However, BMI is nice and easy so it's here to stay.

I don't know but I'd guess that it has a role in screening, along with other info. "This person has a high BMI - check if they fall into one of these outlier categories. If not consider recommending weight loss". But that means extra thinking, not a magic formula.

I read one story of a female bodybuilder who was sent off to see a consultant due to her abnormal BMI. Cause of much stress for her, and waste of resources for everyone. That's not a problem with BMI per se, it's a problem with treating it as something that it isn't: a magic formula with unambiguous outputs.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Many years ago I was first referred to as Obese by my doctor
which was a bit of a shock - I knew I had put on weight but that seemed like an extreme word

Anyway - a few days later I needed to get out to an appointment somewhere

I lost track of time so had to rush to get ready
ran downstairs and put my shoes on
realise dI had forgotten something - so ran upstairs again
ran back down
forgot something else so ran back up again
ran back down and the phone rang - talked to the person on the other end for a couple of minutes

got in the car and headed off

on the way I was thinking

I was defined as Obese - but had just run up and down stairs 2/3 times then talked on the phone perfectly normally

which sounds a long way off what I would think of as obese

not sure I could still do that - but that is mostly to do with my knees and asthma than anything else
I can certainly walk - and I wall faster than most people - for hours with no problem and I can ride my bike - even with no battery assist - for several hours on the flat at a decent speed with no problems


I know I should loose weight - but obese is an extreme word and it way over the top for someone at my level of fitness

and that is before even talking about people who are very fit but it is all muscle!!

It does seem to need looking at

 

[Drago]

My BMI is 33, yet I have 18" guns and my chest is in the region of 16" bigger than my waist. I just ignore BMI completely.

 

[Punkawallah]

SWMBO is a Dietitian and has always used skinfold measurements instead of BMI. Apparently it's a better indicator of health.

‘If you can pinch an inch’.
A wise man told me that if your waist measurement was over half your height (yes, the same units - I know my audience), you’re too fat. Over 50’s get a 10% ‘bye’.

 

[gbb]

In my late 40s and at my then peak fitness, I was classified as overweight according to my then BMI.
I carried virtually no fat, it was just muscle.
Dread to think what it would be now , I eat the same but don't cycle anymore and it's 20 years later
😆

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I carried virtually no fat

Now that would be classed as unhealthy

 

[Marchrider]

My BMI is 33, yet I have 18" guns and my chest is in the region of 16" bigger than my waist. I just ignore BMI completely.

what is you height / waist ratio ? (and no cheating by holding it in)

 

[vickster]

The problem with the BMI index is that fat is less dence than mussel. Put many Olympic athletes statistics into the BMI calculator and they'd be classed as obese. Well that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. It's just relaxed mussel, honestly.

That sounds fishy...