McDonald's and BMI

[Trolldor]

The method is invalidated if it measures 'weight/height' correlation without looking at components.

Some people are 'heavier' without being unhealthy for a number of reasons, hence why the 'waist size' is what is being advocated as a more accurate measurement of health.

It's only meant to be a rough guide and it is a pretty useful rough guide for the majority of people.

As a rough guide it's great, as an actual guide it's rubbish.

In relation to the thread, it's asking for your 'personal BMI' which is useless.
If it asked for your waist size it would give you a better indication of correlation to whatever the op was asking. I don't know I didn't really give it much of a look.

[Coito ergo sum]

Generally speaking, if your waste size indicates your obese, so will BMI.

Often, your waste size will indicate you are not obese - as in a heavily muscled athlete - but BMI will incorrectly call him obese due to the heavy weight.

Obviously, the best test is water immersion body fat percentage, but not everybody has access to that. Calipers are good, in the right hands, but subject to a degree of human error.

To call BMI "rubbish" is rather unhelpful, because people may then use it, see that it calls them "overweight" or "obese" and say - well, this is rubbish so I won't listen to it. However, unless a person is an athlete or a body builder, who has a high level of muscle content, well, BMI works pretty good at indicating that a person is fat. A person who is of average height, who doesn't lift weights, and who has a BMI of 30 needs to lose weight. Often, however, they will not see it in themselves, or not realize just how much they are overweight.

[Pappa]

Using body-builders or athletes as an example is a bit pointless anyway. BMI is useful for the majority of people... but not body builders or athletes, they know not to use BMI as a guide.

[Trolldor]

An obese person will know they're overweight because they're fat. Because their stomach protrudes and they need a seat and a half to sit down.

[Pappa]

An obese person will know they're overweight because they're fat. Because their stomach protrudes and they need a seat and a half to sit down.

Maybe an obese person will, but how about an overweight person? Plus, an obese person trying to lose weight will get a pretty good guide as to how their weight compares to their ideal weight by using their BMI.

[Trolldor]

No, they'll get a pretty good idea by going to a qualified medical professional.

[Coito ergo sum]

That's overkill, usually. If the numbers show that you're a bit heavy, drop a few pounds. It's not that hard.

If a person is grossly overweight, then medical professionals maybe should be resorted to. But, just being overweight, one is better off going to a personal trainer and having them assess you visually and by body fat percentage.

I mean - this ain't that complicated - it's not like people are walking around fat and nobody can tell. People can ask a fitness trainer at the local gym - hey, can I stand to lose some weight?

[Coito ergo sum]

An obese person will know they're overweight because they're fat. Because their stomach protrudes and they need a seat and a half to sit down.

It's very common for people who are merely overweight do not think of themselves as overweight. Given that 2/3 of the American population are overweight or worse, perceptions seem to be starting to change about what constitutes overweight.

[Coito ergo sum]

An obese person will know they're overweight because they're fat. Because their stomach protrudes and they need a seat and a half to sit down.

Maybe an obese person will, but how about an overweight person? Plus, an obese person trying to lose weight will get a pretty good guide as to how their weight compares to their ideal weight by using their BMI.

Yes, and they can easily use the waist measurement chart to use a second metric.

And, they can, if they want, go to a fitness facility and get a caliper test or an immersion test for body fat.

But, if the BMI and waist band indicate a person is obese, I wouldn't put money on them not being obese.

[Trolldor]

That's overkill, usually. If the numbers show that you're a bit heavy, drop a few pounds. It's not that hard.

If a person is grossly overweight, then medical professionals maybe should be resorted to. But, just being overweight, one is better off going to a personal trainer and having them assess you visually and by body fat percentage.

I mean - this ain't that complicated - it's not like people are walking around fat and nobody can tell. People can ask a fitness trainer at the local gym - hey, can I stand to lose some weight?

Except you're asking someone with a commercial interest, and not everybody can afford a local gym membership.

Oh yeah, I forgot, you're America. Not everybody can afford to go to the doctor's either.

[Warren Dew]

As a rough guide it's great, as an actual guide it's rubbish.

In relation to the thread, it's asking for your 'personal BMI' which is useless.

Actually the thread is one of the better uses of BMI. The point of the thread is to look at aggregated statistical data from the poll, not at individual cases. A simple objective measure is needed so it's easy for people to answer the question correctly. If a couple of people happen to be in the "BMI over 25" category because they're weightlifters instead of overweight, it's not going to make much difference in the overall results.

[Trolldor]

Yes, individual cases. The 'sample' is not enough for it to be statistically applicable to a given population.

[Coito ergo sum]

That's overkill, usually. If the numbers show that you're a bit heavy, drop a few pounds. It's not that hard.

If a person is grossly overweight, then medical professionals maybe should be resorted to. But, just being overweight, one is better off going to a personal trainer and having them assess you visually and by body fat percentage.

I mean - this ain't that complicated - it's not like people are walking around fat and nobody can tell. People can ask a fitness trainer at the local gym - hey, can I stand to lose some weight?

Except you're asking someone with a commercial interest, and not everybody can afford a local gym membership.

Oh yeah, I forgot, you're America. Not everybody can afford to go to the doctor's either.

LOL -- you live in a country where people can't afford to spend $30 to go to a gym for a month, but you have the nerve to take a crack at America? what do people do where you live? Sit around in dark rooms with no lights, televisions or gym memberships, but thinking, "thankfully, I can go to the doctor without a co-pay?"

[Trolldor]

$30? On what planet do you come from? I lol'd at $30.

You're looking at around $100.

[Coito ergo sum]

#30? On what planet do you coI lol'd at $30.

You're looking at around $100.

Oh, not in the US - I just checked out a local gym here that had a special - $100-$120 for the year. http://www.fitnessfor10.com/club/club-locator.html

For $29.99 Lifestyle Family Fitness (large, popular gym with multiple locations) will get you going.

Another one locally here is Powerhouse gym, and they are around $30 to $50 a month depending on the package.

Bally total fitness: $19.99 a month with a "web special" sign up.... http://www.ballyfitness.com/get-started ... ember.aspx

$100 a month for a gym membership? LOL - must be all the taxes spent so you don't have to pay a deductible. What a deal!