I’ve always hated the traditional BMI calculators out there because they always tell me I’m ‘obese’. If you were to look at me you’d say, sure, I need to lose some weight, but I’m far from obese-looking. And I certainly don’t feel it. I was searching around online and found this Athletic Build BMI Calculator, which is much more inline with where I feel my body mass index actually is at and where I want it to be. Check it out here: Athletic BMI Calculator [I've also put the link on the left nav if you scroll down to the "Helpful Tools" links].
Having an athletic build at my height, this calculator says my ‘desirable’ range is actually 150 lbs to 190 lbs. Which is a BMI of 20 to 25. 20-22 being optimal, 23-25 being desirable. I know they say men should have a lower BMI than women, though. So that range can be tightened up to 170 lbs to 190 lbs for my height [5'7"]. On a regular BMI Calculator, my ideal weight range is said to be: 118 lbs to 159 lbs. That’s a pretty big difference…
None of this makes that big a difference if I’m eating healthy and exercising for better health, and not so much for what the number on the scale says. But it’s nice to know that what my gut told me about where my ‘ideal weight’ should be isn’t considered to be ‘overweight’ if my frame isn’t petite and light on the muscle mass. Getting that validation makes me feel better about my goals. I could starve my way into what the regular BMI calculators call ‘desirable’ … but that doesn’t sound like fun. At least now I know that I’m not crazy for NOT wanting to weigh 120 lbs. lol… ;)
Image credit: Animal Scale by AngryStore
March 29, 2009 at 2:27 am
Yes! Thank you! I felt the same way, according to a regular BMI calculator I was obese, and I always didn’t feel like it.
Especially since I can run a 7 min mile. Bench press 300.
Yes, thank you! This now says that I’m at 25… which isn’t awesome, but still much much better then “Obese” Lol.
Thanks for this!
March 29, 2009 at 3:58 am
No problem! Anytime I come across something helpful like that – and worth remembering – I’ll post it! =)
May 12, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Use the US Navy Calculation to get a more accurate BMI
December 7, 2010 at 5:03 am
my husband is in the navy and he has a very large range inwhich he can be put into for weight. I could gain like 20 pounds and still be fine in the navy. I dont think that is a very good resource to follow when it comes to being “fit”
January 30, 2010 at 2:01 pm
Hey, found your site by accident doing a search on Ask but I will definitely be coming back. As for your post… I agree with a lot of what you’re saying here but wouldn’t it be just as easy to focus on the postive? I mean why mess with your quality of life if you don’t have to?
February 1, 2010 at 5:01 am
Still a flawed tool as all BMIs are; i am an active, healthy 40 year old male that is 6ft tall and weighs 250 lbs. I am not fat, i have not been under 200 lbs since I was 14. I would have to amputate a leg to be in the ‘healthy’ range. I go to the gym 4 or 5 times a week and participate in other activities; at the gym I row 7.5 km in 30 minutes and then hit the treadmill, elliptical or bike. According to your BMI tool I am obese.
April 22, 2010 at 5:58 pm
It’s not my tool and I know it’s flawed. As long as you’re happy with how you feel, that’s what matters! I’m 5’7″ and at the moment I’m at 197lbs – and I’m a size 12. I’m a size 8 at 165lbs or so, so obviously some of us are more densely packed that others, which I don’t consider a bad thing. On the contrary – it means we have more lean muscle mass and more bone mass from being more active! =)
At the time when I found that tool it seemed more reasonable than the regular BMI calculators out there and I was looking for another way to measure progress. I needed all the positive reinforcement I could get! Now my BMI is at 30, which is still considered ‘overweight/unhealthy’ but I know I’m in better shape than most of my friends who probably weigh 50lbs less or more, so I just take it with a grain of salt. ;)
November 18, 2010 at 7:38 am
I have found since exercising and eating the right amount in the last few months and getting rid of extra fat, is that measuring your chest/bust, waist and hips (for females) is a great insight into being in proportion and healthy. I’m short and my normal BMI is 22/23, in the upper range for my height, Australian size 8. I am in proportion and have an athletic build, so the athletic BMI scale is much much better and I am in the desirable range. Weight is individual, we all have different proportions and builds so as long as you feel good you look good then you are happy! Also its a good idea to know your body percentage fat, that is the real truth about health! Skinny people can have a much higher body percentage fat than someone who actually eats and exercises :-)
January 21, 2011 at 6:27 pm
Thank you for this. I too am sick of being told that I am obese by the BMI.
February 4, 2012 at 6:54 am
I just kinda feel if you’re working out so that you fit some sort of approximated critera, you’re missing the point. Using a tool with lower criteria doesn’t make you any more or less healthy and fit than you originally were. In fact looking over the comments it seems like most people in here are happy to use the lowered criteria as an excuse to accept their current state of being, whether or not they are actually content with it. I play league basketball. I work out to increase my performance and numbers. Other people here are working out to improve their appearence, while others are working out for health, and even others here seem to just enjoy the challenge of pusing one’s limits. My point is work out for yourself, not some number generated off very loose approximations. If you wanna look better keep working out till you get to the image you’re looking for. If you wanna get healthy keep going till you achieve the health and well-being you’re looking for. Than maintain your goals. But if you’re cutting back because you found a device that comforts you and tells you you don’t need to reach your goals, because your already good enough; than you’re simply making excuses and giving up on your goals. No one achieves anything by judgeing themselves based on meaningless systems of numbers and approximations. We achieve or goals, and meet our own challenges by judgeing ourselves against what we personally are capable of, and refusing to settle for anyhting less. Having said that, the tool put me at a nice 21, which is fairly acurate since I would say I’m in great shape. I just guess I feel like BMI is more for those people who just need some approximated number to wake them up to the fact that they are harming their body due to their diet and lack of activity. If your a athlete, or someone whose relativly fit, your workouts shouldn’t be about hitting meaningless aproximated numbers. They should be about acomplishing your individual workout goals. If you’re not an athlete than you shouldn’t be using this tool, because you’re just deciving yourself into thinking this tool applies to your body type, and using the lower numbers to avoid that “wake up” call. So its accurate, but mixed feelings on what an athlete’s BMI index tool’s purpose should really be. I’m just afraid it will do more harm than good as very few athletes should factor BMI into their workout goals, and it’s tempting for slightly overweight people to use this tool to develop an inaccurate sense of comfort at their current wieght level. I’ve already seen several commentors here proving that fear.
Just some stuff to think about.
-Daniel
February 10, 2012 at 10:52 pm
Get reality check and be honest wit yourself.
Just FAT, not athletic, or other “feel-good” nonsense.
With low body fat, to exceed healthy standard BMI range you usually need years of lifting weights.
I should know, because I did it myself.
April 12, 2012 at 4:14 am
I’ve had several very sweet doctors pat me on the hand while saying, “you have big bones.” Both sides of my family are lean & big boned. My bones show through my clothing, my legs are on the skinny side, but I have no waist. My lowest ribs nearly rest on my hip bones while standing & overlap when I sit. I’m 5’2″, 53 yrs old, & weigh just under 120 lbs. Because people can see my bones, in the summer my lean arms & legs show too, I’m often called skinny. It’s odd because I can easily obscure my petite, small boned, long waisted, perfectly curved friends who think they’re fat. I show them the difference in our frames, & how much I weigh. Most of these beauties are 1-3 inches taller & many are younger than me, but even when they weigh less it doesn’t seem to make any difference. I’d love to have their wastes & curves, they want my visible bones, how silly we are.
My doctors always look at my build when determining my overall health, & don’t talk about BMI.– The other thing that runs in my family is high blood pressure. Most of us try to stay healthy. (Fear of heart attack & worse, stroke, is terrific motivation.)
Build matters to every doctor I’ve had. I want to stay healthy, but I dwell on wanting a long waist & female hips, no curves give an illusion of slim hips, but I’m wide, tape measures & jeans don’t lie.
Sorry, I don’t have a real point, maybe a little perspective since I’ve lived longer than some of you, or that you should compliment your friends who are shaped the way you’d like to be shaped. It will make their day.
April 24, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Another good indicator of healthy weight is your waist to hip ratio. For women, it should be less than 0.8 and for men less than 0.9. The most unhealthy part of extra weight is carrying it in your midsection. This is when it starts to effect your heart and your overall health the most.