So, when I moved back to Chicago last Fall, I joined a LifeTime Fitness by my work in order to avoid rush-hour traffic in the morning.
After 8 months of working out 5 days a week, I've gone down a belt size, I feel better, and am now officially, according to the Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator... OVERWEIGHT.
Because during this 8 months, I also GAINED over 10 pounds, elevating me into this higher category. So, my contention is that BMI is stupid. It's merely a ratio of height:weight, and it penalizes those for obtaining muscle mass. So, for a woman who joins a gym because her BMI is scaring her, she's not going to lower it by lifting weights, even though that may help her overall condition of health. Unfair.
I want a better index to judge overall health. Does this exist? May 4, 2007
BMI Says…
So, when I moved back to Chicago last Fall, I joined a LifeTime Fitness by my work in order to avoid rush-hour traffic in the morning.
After 8 months of working out 5 days a week, I've gone down a belt size, I feel better, and am now officially, according to the Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator... OVERWEIGHT.
Because during this 8 months, I also GAINED over 10 pounds, elevating me into this higher category. So, my contention is that BMI is stupid. It's merely a ratio of height:weight, and it penalizes those for obtaining muscle mass. So, for a woman who joins a gym because her BMI is scaring her, she's not going to lower it by lifting weights, even though that may help her overall condition of health. Unfair.
I want a better index to judge overall health. Does this exist?