Re: BMI of 27

[Guest guest]

Mike,

1) You cannot lose only fat. Approximately 80% of the fat in the body

is subcutaneous fat. You always lose lean body mass and fat when you

lose weight. See Message 15864 from last year where this topic was

discussed. At 15% Body Fat, over half of the weight that you lose is

lean body mass. When your percentage of fat is higher, you lose a

greater proportion of fat.

2) BMI by itself is insensitive to the distribution of weight. Ronnie

(Mr. Olympia) has a BMI of 41, but a waist of about 30 inches.

Abdominal fat has been associated with increased cardiovascular

problems. Waist-to-Height ratios greater than 0.5 are indicative of

intra-abdominal fat for both men and women and are associated with a

greater risk of cardiovascular disease. Waist-to-Height ratios greater

than 0.55 also increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.[1]

The waist-to-hip ratio is also used as a criterion, but unfortunately,

using this method, a big butt cancels a big gut.

You can estimate your percentage of body fat using the Navy

Circumference Method. All you need is a scale and a tape measure:

http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/diet.html

Tony

[1](See for example, S.D. Hsieh, H. Yoshinaga, T. Muto, Int. J. Obes.

Relat. Metab. Disord., 2003 May;27(5):610-6. Waist-to-height ratio, a

simple and practical index for assessing central fat distribution and

metabolic risk in Japanese men and women.)

>

> I can empathise. I'm a BMI of 27. Despite my best efforts, I've

> only managed to maintain this weight. I'm intent on losing 20 lbs

> (of fat, of course) for lots of reasons including egotistical. I'm

> ecoubling my efforts to eat less, exercise more.

>

> But BMI seems very arbitrary, and as your husband notes, not

> necessarily very accurate. It's highly precise, however, (I mean the

> technical definition of precise). This is probably why it's so

> favored by the medical commuity.

>

> It's hard for me imagine that morbidity is vastly greater at a BMI

> of 27.5 vs 25, say. Not to mention longevity.

>

> Another point I've never understood, re your mention of

> Schwarzenneger, is how unhealthy excess muscle tissue might be.

> Maybe he is just as bad off as being obese (in common parlance).

>

> Anybody have the quintessential BMI summary at her/his fingertips to

> save me a search? Sorry to be so lazy.

>

> Mike

>

>

>