Body Mass Index

[pufferfish]

Hey Cadet,
What height and weight did you put in the calculator?

 

[aquasport]

Hieght 5'9 ,150 bmi 22.4

 

[Saturation]

Interesting numbers, ~ half of responders are overweight.

Note, the BMI can be misleading if you have large muscle mass since a patient's height to weight will also be off.

It pays to lower one's body fat ASAP. Its more than just cosmetic. The data on BMI was released because the risk for disease later in life is proportionate to a BMI > 25, although it specifically refers to body fat.

The price for being overweight is high and potentially lifelong even after weight reduction later.

Too many 50c twinkies is a high price to pay for arthritis of the hips, knees and lower back [ not reversible with weight reduction]. Sleep apnea, heart disease, hypertension and diabetes mellitus are reversible to an extent, but are quite debilitating and discomforting should they occur. And yes, one probably would have to stop diving too.

While it is rarely possible to control the conditions of the oceans, winds and waves to dive when we please, to a greater extent we can control what we do to ourselves, moreso how many calories we eat daily and how often we exercise.

 

[wetvet]

I agree with you, and feel that body fat is a much more accurate measure. Does anyone happen to know what body fat % are good targets? I know that less is better, but what is reasonable? My goals are a little different than Tom Cruise or Shaq. (I am married, after all......I've caught my limit ).


Wetvet

 

[wednesday]

Your calculator said 23, but another calculator that took waist measurement as part of the calculation said 26. I agree with the one that said 26 because I carry my extra weight in the middle. It just doesn't come off fast enough...lol.

 

[Saturation]

I found this on the net:

http://www.am-i-fat.com/body_fat_percentage.html

If your BMI is high, it may pay to measure your body fat directly with calipers as greater muscle mass will skew the weight to height numbers. Otherwise, BMI is simple, accurate and reproducible.

 

[pufferfish]

More evidence for all of us to keep our BMI at minimum below 30 and ideally below 25.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/conditions/04/23/fat.cancer.ap/index.html

That's it no more donuts and off to the gym at least three times a week. Ah but there is still hockey playoffs with pizza and beer for a few more weeks. I will start in May then

 

[Saturation]

pufferfish once bubbled...
More evidence for all of us to keep our BMI at minimum below 30 and ideally below 25.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/conditions/04/23/fat.cancer.ap/index.html

That's it no more donuts and off to the gym at least three times a week. Ah but there is still hockey playoffs with pizza and beer for a few more weeks. I will start in May then

Good catch. Here's the actual link to the article:

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/348/17/1625

Being in the right weight class is more than just an esthetic issue. While I deeply sympathize with those who have weight problems, euphemisms for being fat: such as heavy, big, large, and plump may ease the psychological pain, but not the organic risks around it. The vast majority of heavy individuals do not suffer from glandular or genetic obesity, but ingest too many calories for their activity level.

If diving provides an incentive to watch one's weight and stay fit, it will serve a greater purpose since society, the rest of us, pay into insurances that will pay for care of those who are afflicted with diseases that may be avoidable. And as we see, the cost of healthcare continues to rise. With population growth, and overweight segments of the population high, then the likelihood of increasing healthcare use and expense looms even larger.

Being overweight is a national healthcare problem in line with heart disease, Diabetes and even AIDS.

 

[wetvet]

I like Saturations link WAY better. For my weight and waist size, (225 and 37"), I am now an ATHLETE. Yay for me . Unfortunately, I dont think that is any more accurate a discription of me...... . Mebbe I can still lose that 15lbs. Or find another calculation.......

 

[Spectre]

wednesday once bubbled...
Your calculator said 23, but another calculator that took waist measurement as part of the calculation said 26. I agree with the one that said 26 because I carry my extra weight in the middle. It just doesn't come off fast enough...lol.

Where did you find that calculator?

The original one in this thread is just junk IMHO. [5' 7"; 165 = 25.8]