Why BMI Calculators Are Wrong

So I came across this article shaming BMI calculators on how unrealistic they are because they don't take into account real people.

HALLELUJAH!

It's about time someone said it.

I'm sure a lot of people have gone online and checked their BMI or maybe even had it measured at their doctor's office, and you might have wondered how can something so simple be so accurate?

Well, it's not. Sure it can give you an estimate and can help you have an idea of your body, but it does not take into consideration how much of your weight is muscle or fat, water, or even bone density. People can weigh the same, but have different body shapes depending on their fat/muscle ratio.

Take a look at these photos for example:

“BMI is a useful number in general terms, but it doesn’t tell us where the fat is distributed or distinguish between fat and muscle,” said Subhashini Ayloo, MD, a bariatric surgeon at University of Illinois Hospital.

So pretty much if you're an athlete who packs on the muscle, which takes up less space than fat, you can be classified as overweight or obese according the the BMI formula because of your high number. Which when you look at the person, you know there's no way they're overweight. There's barely any fat on them!

A writer from another blog said it best, "You cannot simply calculate your healthy weight from a general source - it depends on several factors, including your overall general health, height, muscle-fat-ratio, bone density, body type, sex, and age".

So don't think about the numbers on the scale. Instead, measure your body. Measure your thighs, hips, waist, and bust. Think more about losing inches or dropping down a size in clothes, and less about pounds.