More health related queries

[_DeeJay_]

I (rather foolishly) decided to get my B.M.I and fat ratio worked out yesterday.

I'm now struggling to understand the results:

Apparently, according to BMI I'm overweight (just) but I only have 10.9% body fat (with 10% being the bottom of what is considered 'normal').

So, which figure should I go by (I assume fat %) and what's the use of BMI if it doesn't consider anything other than weight and height?

Secondly, is my body fat % OK, or should I change my diet to lower it?

thanks!
D


>> Edited by _DeeJay_ on Friday 26th August 09:42

[Ricardo G]

Are you just trying to get the ladies to say "you must work out!"


The BMI doesn't really take into account muscle weight so you may well be just rather 'built'. That % fat reading is low as you can see from the bottom line of 'normal' so losing weight would, for you, probably just mean losing muscle bulk- and I am guessing you wouldn't want to be doing that if you have worked to get it.



>> Edited by Ricardo G on Friday 26th August 09:54

[Chim Girl]

Ricardo G said:

Are you just trying to get the ladies to say "what's your number?

[speedychrissie]

as your fat index shows:
you dont have to lose any weight!

but i guess it depends on what you feel about your body. do you see yourself as overweight? or do you see yourself as more "built" than the majority of people?
that will tell you what to do.

chris

[_DeeJay_]

Ricardo G said:

Are you just trying to get the ladies to say "you must work out!" The BMI doesn't really take into account muscle weight so you may well be just rather 'built'. That % fat reading is low as you can see from the bottom line of 'normal' so losing weight would, for you, probably just mean losing muscle bulk- and I am guessing you wouldn't want to be doing that if you have worked to get it. >> Edited by Ricardo G on Friday 26th August 09:54

I did a google and people who work out seriously seem to have a fat ratio of 6-8%, which I'm way off! My body fat ratio didn't mean much (apart from that it was within guidelines) so just wondered whether it was OK compared with others who had theirs measured.

Surely BMI is a pretty useless statistic then? I've always had a big frame (big boned? ) even when I didn't do any regular exercise so I'm always likely to be high on the BMI scale whilst not necessarily overweight.

Considering that some life insurance policies use BMI as a measure of risk, there must be some scientific merit in it?

[AlexH]

Body fat percentage is a far better guide than BMI which is a rather crude tool...and from yours you definitely don't need to lose any weight!

[_DeeJay_]

speedychrissie said:

as your fat index shows: you dont have to lose any weight! but i guess it depends on what you feel about your body. do you see yourself as overweight? or do you see yourself as more "built" than the majority of people? that will tell you what to do. chris

I don't really see myself as overweight, but would feel happier losing a bit (for vanity purposes ), if it's medically safe to do so. I suppose your body has to retain a certain percentage to work properly, I've just no idea what it is!