Fat or underweight ? JREF members test yourselves !

**Maciamo** · Dec 29, 2006, 17:34

BMI, or Body Mass Index, was developed by the Belgian statistician and anthropometrist Adolphe Quetelet (1796-1874). It is calculated by dividing the subject's weight in kilograms by the square of his/her height in metres (BMI = kg / m2).

The current definitions commonly in use establish the following values, agreed in 1997 and published in 2000:

anorexia : <17.5
underweight : <19.1 (women) or <20.7 (men)
in normal range ideal weight : 19.1-25.8 (women) or 20.7-26.4 (men)
marginally overweight : 25.8-27.3 (women) or 26.4-27.8 (men)
overweight : 27.3-32.3 (women) or 27.8-31.1 (men)
very overweight or obese : >32.3 (women) or >31.1 (men)
severely obese : 35 - 40
morbidly obese : 40 - 50
super obese : 50 - 60 kg/m2

So if you weigh 65 kg and are 1.70m tall, the calcaulation goes like this :
65 / 1.7 x 1.7 = 22.49 (normal weight)

You can also let this website calculate everything for you (also uses pounds and inches for Americans). The result will show up under "Medical Recommendation" => Your current Body Mass Index is ... kg/m2

**ghettocities** · Dec 29, 2006, 17:41

I haven't been eating at all lately, it is caused by a mixture of pre-Japan anxiety and post-Japan stress.

Josh

**Chris K** · Dec 29, 2006, 18:10

BMI is a total waste of time. Now im not gonna pretend to be slim and trim but my BMI is always inflated due to higher than average muscle mass. With the price and availiability of bodyfat measurement gadgets nowadays, there a much better guide.

**Anchyyy** · Dec 29, 2006, 23:54

My index is 23.9, but i'd still like to lose a few kgs

**Live91** · Dec 30, 2006, 00:06

Mine is "normal range" border overweight but I have pretty big bones...I''m pretty average except for that.

**Maciamo** · Dec 30, 2006, 02:45

Originally Posted by Chris K

BMI is a total waste of time. Now im not gonna pretend to be slim and trim but my BMI is always inflated due to higher than average muscle mass. With the price and availiability of bodyfat measurement gadgets nowadays, there a much better guide.

The ideal weight range for men is 20.7 to 26.4. 6 kg/m2 is quite enough as a margin. For example, if you are 1m85. it means that your ideal eright could be anywhere between 71kg and 90kg. Don't tell me you have over 19kg of muscle more than another person the same size and "slimness" as you !

**Mycernius** · Dec 30, 2006, 04:39

You'll find a lot of sportsmen, especially in games such as rugby, American and Australian football, etc., that are obese according to the BMI index. I rate as overweight, but when I was weighed and measured at the gym my body fat is within normal limits of a person of my size. In fact it is near the lower end of the recommened percentage, so what exactly makes my overweight? These type of things, along with other dietry advice reminds me of Woody Allens Sleeper.
"It's nicotine. One of the healthiest things for you."

**Goldiegirl** · Dec 30, 2006, 04:48

23.4....normal...but I still feel larger than a lot of people. My physician and my nutritionist don't but too much emphasis on bmi. They look at the person as a whole to determine what weight is ideal for their health. It's just a good place to get an idea of where you are. My scale at home measures body fat. A small electrical charge goes through you as you stand of the scale (it doesn't hurt and you don't feel anything) and depending how fast it travels through you, determines your percentage of body fat. It measures me at 22, so it is close to the bmi calculator.

**Iron Chef** · Dec 30, 2006, 05:27

17.9 woohoo 8-) Not bad for a middle-aged fart.

**Damicci** · Dec 30, 2006, 06:15

25kg/m2

Perfect male Specimen!!!!! LMAO

**Uncle Frank** · Dec 30, 2006, 06:22

OOOOHH big guy checks in at 29!! Better watch it or I will look like this poor internet addicted guy, LOL.

Uncle Frank

**Goldiegirl** · Dec 30, 2006, 10:42

ewwww!!!! it's the naked part that bothers me. I would never touch anything in that house, that's for sure!

**Uncle Frank** · Dec 30, 2006, 20:14

Originally Posted by Goldiegirl

ewwww!!!! it's the naked part that bothers me. I would never touch anything in that house, that's for sure!

I wonder if the poor guy ever knew his picture would go all over the world on the internet; what a way to get your 15 minutes of fame!

Uncle Frank

**Satorian** · Dec 31, 2006, 01:31

Hmmm, I'm at 20.5, but I have a fair bit of lean muscle from football, running and doing pushups, sit-ups and the occasionally lifted weight.

@Chris K: Nobody should make profound medical decisions based on minimal BMI differences, but for a general assessment it's still a fairly valid tool in my opinion. Of course there are deviances towards both ends of the muscular-fat spectrum, but it works well enough for most people.

As for body fat, home equipment isn't of much use really. We have a pretty expensive weight scale with induction fat measurement, but it shows 6% for me and those kinds of measurements are useless for anything under 12-15%, so I don't put much stock in that.

**Iron Chef** · Dec 31, 2006, 02:26

Nice pic there Frank 8-)

**chocolateangels** · Dec 31, 2006, 05:58

Originally Posted by Chris K

BMI is a total waste of time. Now im not gonna pretend to be slim and trim but my BMI is always inflated due to higher than average muscle mass. With the price and availiability of bodyfat measurement gadgets nowadays, there a much better guide.

yeah this persons right. BMI is really silly coz muscle weighs more than fat. Its probably better to go and get a body fat check.

**Tsukiko-chan** · Dec 31, 2006, 06:08

ideal !!! But I'm still yong.. Then it is a bit diffrent

**Riyko** · Jan 1, 2007, 13:36

29.3 it says i'm just barely overweight by 4kgs.

**pbjsandwich** · Jan 1, 2007, 13:59

16.5... gah... =.= New Year's resolution: Eat more.

**MRC1** · Jan 2, 2007, 00:15

Now that I am over 50, I notice that I cannot keep the weight off as when I was young even though I do physical work and walk between 7 to 15 miles a day while at work.

**sabro** · Jan 2, 2007, 00:46

Overweight 28.9 BMI... (but not obese.) The BMI isn't any different to the actuary tables that were used for years, and it is one measure-- but not the only measure of health. I don't tend to pay close attention to the numbers... although I just lost about 35 pounds (16kg). You should also look at your body fat percentage and keep a check on your blood pressure and blood sugar and other measures of health. By BMI alone almost all professional athletes in the NFL, NHL, and the fighters on UFC are overweight.

**Seon-a Kim** · Jan 2, 2007, 00:47

What's with the "m²"?

I'm 63 kg in total and that's that.

**sabro** · Jan 2, 2007, 01:28

Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic is a MMA fighter from Croatia... at 6'2" and 220 pounds, he is overweight.

**BrennaCeDria** · Jan 3, 2007, 11:54

I figured mine with lbs and feet a few months ago for class... I was .2 under the top of the "normal" range, so while I'm doing okay I'd like to convert what I've got to muscle, so that I'm healthier overall.

**Dutch Baka** · Jan 9, 2007, 21:43

My BMI is 21.1, so I am pretty satisfight about that. But I do want to gain at least 3-4 kilo, but I think with working out a little bit more, and eat some more in the morning will do.

Thanks for the test.