Re: Body Mass Calculator

In article <1146670786.888834.141210@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
PeterB <pkm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

David Wright wrote:
In article <1146591318.850308.208680@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
PeterB <pkm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

vernon wrote:
"PeterB" <pkm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1146583245.523600.103600@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

David Wright wrote:
In article <1146497093.261275.197450@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
PeterB <pkm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
http://nhlbisupport.com/bmi/

Please note that "body mass index" is not terribly useful for anyone
aside from sedentary populations. Just because it says you're
'overweight' doesn't mean you are, and just because it says you're NOT
overweight isn't an automatic reason to relax.

Nonsense. If you fall within the recommended ranges, you know you're
better off (statistically) than those who don't.

The heavier you are, the more it hurts when you fall and the harder
it is to
get up.

My stupidity being said, body mass calculator is often not usefull only
because of innacuracy.
For instance, I have large bones and have a better than normal muscle mass.
When I use the "calculator", I am "fat"
When I use the water displacement, impedance measurement or professional
pinch test, I am very lean.

BMI is based on what's true for most people, but will overestimate body
fat in a few (probably less than 2%.) It will even underestimate body
fat in a few, mainly the elderly.

Whenever I see the word "probably" in a PeterB posting, I now know it
translates into "this is something I wish were true, I have no
evidence that it's true, and it usually isn't true."

You're wrong. And you shouldn't dissuade people from using a
meaningful metric that can save their lives. The BMI is especially
useful in populations where obesity rates are high.

Such is the case, here. I've just spent some time rummaging around in
PubMed, and I find that BMI correlates quite poorly with body fat
percentages in many populations.

BMI isn't designed to measure the percentage of body fat, so your point
is meaningless.

PeterB, do you even bother to *read* the swill you write? Let's take
a look at two of your statements from this thread, conveniently
juxtaposed:

BMI is based on what's true for most people, but will overestimate body
fat in a few (probably less than 2%.) It will even underestimate body
fat in a few, mainly the elderly.

and

BMI isn't designed to measure the percentage of body fat, so your point
is meaningless.

So first you tell us that it overestimates or underestimates in a tiny
percentage of cases, then you tell us that it isn't designed to
estimate body fat.

My point, which apparently escaped you entirely, is that you were
wrong in your original statement that BMI provided an accurate
estimate of body fat. BMI would, I'm sure, not provide a correct
estimate of the amount of fat in your head, which must approach 100%
in your case.

BMI has moderate value as a screening tool in sedentary populations,
and that's about it.

-- David Wright :: alphabeta at prodigy.net
These are my opinions only, but they're almost always correct.
"If you can't say something nice, then sit next to me."
-- Alice Roosevelt Longworth
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Body Mass Calculator
    ... PeterB wrote: ... Please note that "body mass index" is not terribly useful for anyone ... body mass calculator is often not usefull only ... fat in a few, mainly the elderly. ...
    (misc.health.alternative)
  • Re: Body Mass Calculator
    ... PeterB wrote: ... body mass calculator is often not usefull only ... BMI is based on what's true for most people, ... fat in a few, mainly the elderly. ...
    (misc.health.alternative)
  • Re: Body Mass Calculator
    ... body mass calculator is often not usefull only ... fat in a few, mainly the elderly. ... A friend whose BMI ... Same with exercise. ...
    (misc.health.alternative)
  • Re: Body Mass Calculator
    ... vernon wrote: ... body mass calculator is often not ... BMI is based on what's true for most people, ... fat in a few, mainly the elderly. ...
    (misc.health.alternative)
  • Re: Body Mass Calculator
    ... vernon wrote: ... body mass calculator is often not usefull ... fat in a few, mainly the elderly. ... A friend whose BMI ...
    (misc.health.alternative)