Social Question

ANef_is_Enuf's avatar

Have you ever heard of being put in a different BMI category due to body composition?

Asked by ANef_is_Enuf (26839points) July 27th, 2020

I had a check-up with my dr recently, where he placed me in a lower BMI category than the chart because he said I have a lot of lean mass which makes it less accurate for me.

I’ve heard of arguments to do this and ways in which the traditional BMI should be adjusted for things like frame and athleticism, but I’ve never actually heard of it put into practice in a medical setting. Have you?

Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0

10 Answers

lucillelucillelucille's avatar

I do think frame and musculature should be considered but the only time I’ve looked at the BMI charts is on my own.
I have been weighed at the doctor’s in full winter gear.
They’re all about accuracy where I go. XD
I just read this:
Lean body mass is calculated as the difference between total body weight and body fat weight, or more simply, the weight of everything except the fat. The range of lean body mass considered to be healthy is around 70% – 90% with women being towards the lower end of the range and men higher
So if I say my heart is heavy it could actually be true.:)

Tropical_Willie's avatar

I’ve had a similar situation, lean body mass was higher than normal for BMI calculation. It was at the “Y”, trainer surprised. They used a scale and I had to be bare footed.

canidmajor's avatar

Remember, BMI is an algorithm developed by a statistician almost 200 years ago. I recognize that it can be a very general assessment of fat percentage, but I would be wary of putting too much stock in it, or a physician who does.
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106268439

ANef_is_Enuf's avatar

@canidmajor yeah, I don’t really care and I don’t pay attention to BMI, I just thought this was interesting because I’ve never heard of it happening before.

Darth_Algar's avatar

I don’t think I’ve ever even heard my GP so much as mention BMI.

kritiper's avatar

Never heard of it but believe adjustments to the BMI are needed due to differences in bodies.
I threw my doctor a curve when I stated how much I needed to weigh to conform to my BMI because I used my true height (6’ 1¾”) to calculate BMI rather than straight 6’ 1”, 6’ 2”, or 6’ 3”.

Tropical_Willie's avatar

@Darth_Algar My GP has it right on the chart for each time you come in for an appointment; next to temp, pulse, O2% and B/P.

ANef_is_Enuf's avatar

@Tropical_Willie mine too, it comes on a little print out every time I go with all of my other stats.

Tropical_Willie's avatar

The trainer at the “Y” was surprised because the only other time he saw numbers like that was a ex college football player trying to get back in shape.

Not my background LOL !

Darth_Algar's avatar

@Tropical_Willie

Yes, mine as well, but I suspect that’s a policy of the health care group he works for (which has hundreds of GP’s and specialists, across dozens of locations around several Chicagoland counties). As far as my GP himself: he’s never mention it as far as I recall. Which, to me, indicates that he doesn’t put much stock in the BMI in itself.

Answer this question

Login

or

Join

to answer.
Your answer will be saved while you login or join.

Have a question? Ask Fluther!

What do you know more about?
or
Knowledge Networking @ Fluther