Unreliable BMI calculator?!
Question: Unreliable BMI calculator.?
I was recently on the NHS BMI calculator to check my BMI, I am 5"3' and weigh 9st 8 and it's telling me I am (just) in the healthy weight range. It took another 2st for it to even consider the notion that I'm verging towards being underweight, and when I put 11st in it said I was almost obese!
I know that my BMI is slap bang in the middle(ish) of the healthy weight range and to even ENTER the overweight catagory I'll need to put on at least a stone and a half.
Is this just more government fuelled health propaganda.? SHAME on the NHS.Health Question & Answer
I know that my BMI is slap bang in the middle(ish) of the healthy weight range and to even ENTER the overweight catagory I'll need to put on at least a stone and a half.
Is this just more government fuelled health propaganda.? SHAME on the NHS.Health Question & Answer
Answers:
No, I wouldn't call it propaganda. The BMI should only be used as a general reference, to get an idea of what is healthy. Many professional athletes would be considered overweight if they strictly followed the BMI. While someone who is of the same size of an athlete but doesn't workout or eat right at all would have the same BMI, but that doesn't mean the athlete and non-athlete have the same health/fitness level. It doesn't take into account that your muscle composition and other factors. It's merely a generalization. You shouldn't need some chart to tell you if you are healthy or not.Health Question & Answer
I'm not a fan of BMI calculators because they aren't always accurate. For example, a weight lifter will have a healthy percentage of body fat but purely using BMI he will most likely show up at super obese. I vastly prefer a % fat calculator which I think is a much better indicator of health. Grab a tape measure head for to the free % body fat calculator belowHealth Question & Answer
Okay the first says you are 23.7 which is normal range. At 11st, adding 6 pounds and one stone (20 pounds) makes you 28.
2st is 28 pounds - the difference for a woman your height between normal and overweight and overweight and obese.Health Question & Answer
2st is 28 pounds - the difference for a woman your height between normal and overweight and overweight and obese.Health Question & Answer
They don't calculate muscle mass either, genetics age (ie if you are young and due a "growth spurt") etc
What do other BMI calculators say.?
Bottom line, BMI's aren't hugely important, they are not an accurate representation of your physical state!Health Question & Answer
What do other BMI calculators say.?
Bottom line, BMI's aren't hugely important, they are not an accurate representation of your physical state!Health Question & Answer
This calculator correctly indicates your BMI. Remember this is a medical measure not a cosmetic one.Health Question & Answer
BMI calculators can't predict genetic factors...
That is most harmful part of them..Health Question & Answer
That is most harmful part of them..Health Question & Answer
Hey,
If you don't trust the NHS BMI caluclator, you could try calculating it yourself.
The formula is: (Weight in lbs x 703) / (Height in inches, squared)
Theres 14 pounds in a stone and 12 inches in a foot, so, using this formula and your given measurments, I can calculate your BMI to be 23.73.
The healthy weight range is 18.5 to 25, so you're in the middle. If you weighed 11st your BMI would be 27.3 and obesity starts at a BMI of 30.
Basically, the NHS calculator uses a standard BMI formula and ranges and so it wasn't lying at all. Might want to take back that "SHAME on the NHS"....
Hope this helps,
NeldoHealth Question & Answer
If you don't trust the NHS BMI caluclator, you could try calculating it yourself.
The formula is: (Weight in lbs x 703) / (Height in inches, squared)
Theres 14 pounds in a stone and 12 inches in a foot, so, using this formula and your given measurments, I can calculate your BMI to be 23.73.
The healthy weight range is 18.5 to 25, so you're in the middle. If you weighed 11st your BMI would be 27.3 and obesity starts at a BMI of 30.
Basically, the NHS calculator uses a standard BMI formula and ranges and so it wasn't lying at all. Might want to take back that "SHAME on the NHS"....
Hope this helps,
NeldoHealth Question & Answer
Everyones' body is different. BMI ONLY takes into account height and weight.....no other factors such as gender, age, frame size , muscle mass are even considered. If you got a body composition test where they actually meausure your total percentage of body fat this would be a much more reliable indication of whether you are overweight or not.Health Question & Answer