...as "a reliable indicator of body fatness."

I don't feel "obese" any more. Overweight...okay...I'm down with that. I currently weigh 177 pounds. I'm wearing size 14 jeans and medium tops. And yet the industry standard...and my medical records...state that I am obese. And will be for another 8 pounds.

Obese??? Really???

Just saying...

I hear ya! Preach it sister!

I feel you! I was almost 6 feet tall and 160 lbs and was called overweight. Now that is close to my goal.

Funny how the very discipline that tells us to be healthy, is the same one that sets crazy standards for what healthy means.

BMI actually does not account for fat-muscle ratio. It is not a great indicator.

I'm 6-3 1/2 and around 220. The last time I had my body fat checked it was around 13%, which is pretty good for an old man that used to be around 35%. But the BMI charts say I have to be under 200 pounds to not be overweight. I'm not sure where I could lose another 20+ pounds. Maybe 5-10 or so, but 20+???

I'm 6-3 1/2 and around 220. The last time I had my body fat checked it was around 13%, which is pretty good for an old man that used to be around 35%. But the BMI charts say I have to be under 200 pounds to not be overweight. I'm not sure where I could lose another 20+ pounds. Maybe 5-10 or so, but 20+???

My point exactly. Although I'm no where near your body fat %...I'm with you. According to the standards...I'll probably never achieve a "normal" bodyweight. But I will be extremely happy if (and when) I reach my goal of 150 pounds.

'Course then...my medical records will still list me as "overweight."

Woe is me...

I'm with you! I have 6 more pounds until I'm not "morbidly obese" anymore. I'm also in a size 14. I feel fat but not obese, come on!

Same here........I'm not at goal yet, but I also didn't set a goal weight based on BMI charts or Dr recommendation......that would be WLS suicide for me and pretty much impossible for me to accomplish. So I just made a guess as to a max low weight I would probably be able to go and still be happy with my muscle/strength.

Oh...and on the body fat thing.....2 readings told me around 14-15%, the other was around 13%.......so I like that last one better even though I know the other two are probably more accurate.

The BMI scale is a joke. The ONLY thing it's ever been good for is helping me get approved for surgery. BMI was around 42, bf% was 28% when I was 394 pounds. It's a crappy European system that's flawed. I always have people complaining about their BMI, I use the example of Ronnie Coleman or Jay Cutler. They're elite level bodybuilders, sitting around 300 pounds and at 5-7% bodyfat during competition season. Ronnie Coleman joked one day in the gym about how he can't get increased life insurance because they only look at BMI, and not anything else. Always thought that was funny.

The BMI scale is a joke. The ONLY thing it's ever been good for is helping me get approved for surgery.

Ditto!!!

Oh...and on the body fat thing.....2 readings told me around 14-15%, the other was around 13%.......so I like that last one better even though I know the other two are probably more accurate.

Hey...I'm with you. I always weigh myself at least 3 times...then take the lowest reading. It works every time...:-)