Obesity Rates May Be Worse Than Thought

[Magibeg]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/03/health...rse/index.html

"Doctors and health officials have relied for decades on body mass index (BMI), a ratio of height to weight, to categorize people as overweight and obese. A new study, however, suggests the use of BMI may be leading us to underestimate the already sky-high obesity rate.

BMI, the researchers say, is an overly simplistic measure that often misrepresents physical fitness and overall health, especially among older women. Nearly 4 in 10 adults whose BMI places them in the overweight category would be considered obese if their body fat percentage were taken into account, according to the study."

So apparently BMI posts a rosier picture it would seem.

[jmcslob]

Well Duh!
LuLzz...

[Magibeg]

Originally Posted by jmcslob

Well Duh!
LuLzz...

Well the reason I posted it was because whenever there is talks of BMI there is always the same old arguments that "Oh BMI is non-sense, all -insert professional sport here- are in great shape and would be considered obese". It's interesting to hear that there is a good number of people that are within the normal index but have such terrible body compositions that they're still at great risk.

[twilyth]

And people were worried about the LHC creating a black hole that would swallow the earth. Looks like we might have that covered anyway.

[Wile E]

I'm fat.

Fuck you and leave me alone about it.

[DannibusX]

Originally Posted by Wile E

I'm fat.

Fuck you and leave me alone about it.

Fat smoker? You must be a dreg on society

[Wile E]

Originally Posted by DannibusX

Fat smoker? You must be a dreg on society

Absolutely. I sit in my air conditioned room 16 hours a day eating chips, drinking beer and smoking cigarettes while the govt pays all of my bills, buys me my food and pays for my medical coverage.

[mtosev]

[paulieg]

Originally Posted by Magibeg

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/03/health...rse/index.html

"Doctors and health officials have relied for decades on body mass index (BMI), a ratio of height to weight, to categorize people as overweight and obese. A new study, however, suggests the use of BMI may be leading us to underestimate the already sky-high obesity rate.

BMI, the researchers say, is an overly simplistic measure that often misrepresents physical fitness and overall health, especially among older women. Nearly 4 in 10 adults whose BMI places them in the overweight category would be considered obese if their body fat percentage were taken into account, according to the study."

So apparently BMI posts a rosier picture it would seem.

I'm currently at 13% bodyfat, yet because of high levels of muscle mass, I show up as overweight, boderline obese. Basically, it's innaccurate nonsense. It needs to stop being used, period. The only way to get an accurate snapshot is to get a full, professionally done water immersion test. It that is too pricey, then a skin fold test by someone who is competent with calipers would be the next best option.

[yogurt_21]

Originally Posted by paulieg

I'm currently at 13% bodyfat, yet because of high levels of muscle mass, I show up as overweight, boderline obese. Basically, it's innaccurate nonsense. It needs to stop being used, period. The only way to get an accurate snapshot is to get a full, professionally done water immersion test. It that is too pricey, then a skin fold test by someone who is competent with calipers would be the next best option.

or just someone with eyes...

hmm lets see



can you see the obese one in this photo?

I'm sorry I don't give a shit about feelings and I see no need to waste money on tests to tell you the same things your eyes did instantly.

Doctor looks at patient, "I'm sorry you're obese and that increases the risks of x, y, and z. So you need to lose weight to improve your a, b, and c to avoid that.

Just the same as I expect a doctor to be able to look at a person and go, "you're too fucking skinny, seriously eat something."

[Magibeg]

Originally Posted by paulieg

I'm currently at 13% bodyfat, yet because of high levels of muscle mass, I show up as overweight, boderline obese. Basically, it's innaccurate nonsense. It needs to stop being used, period. The only way to get an accurate snapshot is to get a full, professionally done water immersion test. It that is too pricey, then a skin fold test by someone who is competent with calipers would be the next best option.

Yea but what the article is saying is that there is a greater number of people which are the exact opposite of you. People are not necessarily fat by weight but have terrible body compositions. So basically BMI is less effective because it actually paints a better picture of health than is the actual reality.

BMI was always meant to be used by looking at populations of people to give a basic idea of the possible obesity rate. So it's not fair to say "well i'm a big rippling ball of muscle so therefor BMI is broken and needs to go away" when the fact of the matter is that it works well when dealing with large numbers.

[jmcslob]

Originally Posted by yogurt_21

or just someone with eyes...

hmm lets see

http://www.justsaypictures.com/image...eople-fail.jpg

can you see the obese one in this photo?

I'm sorry I don't give a shit about feelings and I see no need to waste money on tests to tell you the same things your eyes did instantly.

Doctor looks at patient, "I'm sorry you're obese and that increases the risks of x, y, and z. So you need to lose weight to improve your a, b, and c to avoid that.

Just the same as I expect a doctor to be able to look at a person and go, "you're too fucking skinny, seriously eat something."

I go by the "CSYD" Index...which means if you look down and Cant See Your Dick you're to fat.

[WhiteLotus]

Originally Posted by paulieg

I'm currently at 13% bodyfat, yet because of high levels of muscle mass, I show up as overweight, boderline obese. Basically, it's innaccurate nonsense. It needs to stop being used, period. The only way to get an accurate snapshot is to get a full, professionally done water immersion test. It that is too pricey, then a skin fold test by someone who is competent with calipers would be the next best option.

BMI does a good job at what it is designed to do, measure body mass. That's it. It's the use of the figure after it that is wrong. And it's an "on average figure=this fat" anyway. So take it as it's meant to be. An average quick simple test for the average person.

Also there are different tiers (overweight, under weight, obese etc) depending on your ethnicity, it's the doctors that don't know about it, or choose to ignore it thinking 1 size fits all.


In short, leave BMI alone, it's the doctors and those that use the measurements afterwards that need to be educated.

[m1dg3t]

BMI is not a good indicator of anything, there are too many variable's as each individual is different. According to BMI i am bordering on obesity meanwhile i'm like 22% - 24% body fat, which IMO is healthy, i'm short so that really messes shit up. Now that warmer weather is here i should be able to get back down to about 16% - 18% body fat and ~67Kg which leave's me looking almost anorexic.

I think they came out with BMI because Dr's didn't want to spend the time to do proper evaluation's or they were wishfully thinking that everyone would eventually fit into the same "nice" box lol

"It's NOT a beer belly! It's a fuel tank for a SEX machine!"

[Magibeg]

Originally Posted by m1dg3t

I think they came out with BMI because Dr's didn't want to spend the time to do proper evaluation's or they were wishfully thinking that everyone would eventually fit into the same "nice" box lol

No they came out with BMI because it's a good general index to measure the health of a large population.

Also i'm not sure of your gender or body type but over 20% body fat is pretty high for a male.

[m1dg3t]

Originally Posted by Magibeg

No they came out with BMI because it's a good general index to measure the health of a large population.

Also i'm not sure of your gender or body type but over 20% body fat is pretty high for a male.

Exactly, being lazy. Can you imagine the work involved in doing a proper eval on each individual?!?!?! It would be to costly, both time wise and $$$

Man it aint shit! Like i said when i get down to 16%/18% i look almost anorexic. You need to have some body fat. Especially for when the apocalypse hit's, the skinny people gon be ded b4 us fatty fat fat's

[Magibeg]

Originally Posted by m1dg3t

Exactly, being lazy. Can you imagine the work involved in doing a proper eval on each individual?!?!?! It would be to costly, both time wise and $$$

Man it aint shit! Like i said when i get down to 16%/18% i look almost anorexic. You need to have some body fat. Especially for when the apocalypse hit's, the skinny people gon be ded b4 us fatty fat fat's

If you look anorexic it means you lack muscle. Go do pushups

-also people tend to greatly underestimate their body fat.

[Screaming Beaver]

heh, I don't need any test to tell me I'm overweight, I know that very well thank you much. I don't smoke or drink so I still like my chances though come my later yrs

[m1dg3t]

Originally Posted by twilyth

And people were worried about the LHC creating a black hole that would swallow the earth. Looks like we might have that covered anyway.

Don't bother me, I'll still exist, just in 2d not 3d

[theJesus]

Originally Posted by Screaming Beaver

heh, I don't need any test to tell me I'm overweight, I know that very well thank you much. I don't smoke or drink so I still like my chances though come my later yrs

Funny, I always picture you as your avatar lol

[razaron]

A tattooed hot chick?

[theJesus]

Yes.

[Screaming Beaver]

sorry to disappoint you all lol

[m1dg3t]

Anyone catch "The Weight of The Nation" documentary/mini series that recently aired on HBO? I never realized it was such an epidemic! The US has more obese people than the enire population of Canada! Something like 2 out of 3 people are overweight and even children aren't safe High sugar/fat diets combined with little to no exercise, digital age/fast food and all (TV/video games/McD's etc), really taking it's toll on "modern" society.

So after 20/30 years of a predominantly sedentary lifestyle we are really seing it's effect's. Thing's aren't looking good for the future unless people make a massive change in their lifestyle/habit's. Myself included