BMI - Basically a Misused Indicator?

Body Mass Index

 Every day I say the same thing “no you are not overweight, its just the BMI scale is a little flawed”. This is in response to a person who has either read something to do with BMI or their new scales have told them they are overweight. Body Mass Index is your weight/your height squared. Your BMI should be between 19-25. Under this and you are classed as underweight and over this, you are classed as overweight. Being in the overweight category means you are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes, cancer, hypertension and high cholesterol. Not great things but what you expect to hear when talking about the health implications of being overweight. Body Mass Index doesn’t take into consideration your fat mass vs your fat free mass. A higher amount of fat free mass (muscle tissue, organ and bone) can tip you over the edge of the BMI scale even though having a larger amount of muscle tissue increases your ability to use fat as an energy source. The best way for you to understand your own body is to use simple measures. Don’t worry yourself with what your BMI is, use simple measures like how your clothes fit, how you look in the mirror or you can take pictures. All three of these are simple markers that can give you all the information you need when trying to measure your weight loss. If you want to take things to the next level find a trainer that is handy with a pair of body fat calipers, measure your waist and hip circumference and take your weight bi weekly. Over analysing yourself is what I consider the most damaging side of the fitness journey. One wrong measurement has the power to make everything that you have been working for over the previous weeks mean nothing. All the eating “clean” and working hard in the gym for what? This is why it is so important to not to focus on the little things. If you base your success on measures that are flawed, then I think you will always be disappointed with the results you achieve. My ethos is to always enjoy the exercise you do and take a little pride in what you eat. Have a great week, Tom www.bear-drills.comFacebook: bear drills fitnessInstagram: bear_drillsTwitter: @bear_drills

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