Body Mass Index Feedback

This page is feedback about the Body Mass Index or BMI, please help others by adding your feedback. What would you tell someone about BMI?

Soy protein powder
Date: 9/30/2011
Hi AskDocWeb, I’m 17, and my BMI works out to be 18.. I have been regular at the gym for about a year now and I was thinking weather it’s a good idea to take soy protein powder after workout for my age? I use soy because I’m lactose intolerant, thanks.

Pranay

AskDocWeb: The BMI Calculator is only for those 20 years old and older. For those under 20 years old, there is a chart for girls and a chart for boys that lists the ideal desirable weights according to the American Child Health Association. For advice about supplement usage consult with Doctors online.

More accurate BMI
Date: 10/1/2011
Oh my goodness. I’ve been looking for something like this. I have recently lost almost 25 pounds and look really good, but according to the standard BMI calculator, I’m still overweight. I want to lose about 10 more pounds which would put me barely into the “normal” weight range. Your calculator seems much more accurate for me.

Elizabeth

AskDocWeb: Good luck Elizabeth.


What is the formula for Lean Body Mass
Date: 11/18/2011
Referring to your website calculator at this link, what is the formula you derived for computing “Lean Body Mass Index” for athletic and muscular individuals?

Mark

AskDocWeb: The most common formula for Lean Body Weight for women is, Result = (1.07 x Weight(kg)) – 148 x ( Weight2/(100 x Height(m))2) and the most common formula for men is, Result = (1.10 x Weight(kg)) – 128 x ( Weight2/(100 x Height(m))2). The modified formula we used is: Result = Round((1.1 * Weight(pounds) * 703) / (1.3 * height(inches) * h(inches)). Our Lean BMI calculator is an adjusted version of the one published by the Panel on Energy, Obesity, and Body Weight Standards in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

BMI for big guys
Date: 11/27/2011
At last a formula that makes an allowance for the ‘big’ guys who work out and keep lean. If only some of these simpleton insurance companies et al would adopt a similar position. I’m sick of being defined as borderline obese when I am 6′ 2″, 213lbs with a 32 inch waist. Go figure!

Peter

Better than average
Date: 12/14/2011
I thought this was so much more accurate than an average bmi calculator. I’m very lean, and quite muscular, with dense bones, and I’m always at a bmi of 23 or 24 elsewhere, though my waist is only 26 inches. This was much more realistic, and in line with how my body looks and works. Thanks for this! I’m going to share it with my friends.

Cynde

AskDocWeb: Thank you Cynde, we appreciate that!

Healthy vegetarian
Date: 12/20/2011
I bike 15 to 20 miles a day. I’m a vegetarian and I eat pretty healthy. While this is better than the regular BMI that says I am obese, it still says that I am Hefty. I’m not sure that I believe that. I’m a size 14, almost 200 lbs and 5ft 3in. I am still looking for something that helps me keep tabs on my health. I used to keep track of inches, but even that has failed as my muscle mass has started to make those numbers climb too.

Maria

AskDocWeb: Welcome Maria! Have you looked at using body fat percentage as an alternative way to keep tabs on your health? The percentage of body fat a person has appears to be important because those with excessive body fat have more:

• illness and death from heart disease
• cancer
• diabetes
• digestive diseases
• blood vessel diseases

We just put up a simple calculator for estimating body fat percentage. Maybe you could help test it out and share your thoughts about it. Calculate your Body Fat Percentage.

BMI and body type
Date: 4/5/2012
I’m a middle aged female with a muscular build, and I’ve always been “overweight” on the standard BMI charts. Even when I was lifting weights and had a 25 inch waist, my BMI was in the overweight range. I am currently at my ideal weight and in good physical shape, and your calculator reflects this. I’m hoping doctors and insurance companies will realize that not everyone’s body type is fairly measured by the regular BMI charts.

Lisa

AskDocWeb: Thanks for letting us know Lisa. Of course Lisa is referring to the Adjust BMI for athletic body types.

Aaron chimes in
Date: 6/1/2012
Hey just wanted to chime in. I’m a very active snowboarder, 30+ days a season, plus kayaking and hiking in the summer to a lesser extent. Even when I was working out 3 times a week my weight was always around 175 pounds (I’m 5’7″) and BMI calcs showed me as “overweight”. I’m now 160 lb and 5’7″ and your calculator seems to be bang on. I could add another activity each week to trim the fat or add some more lean muscle but I’d say I’m right around where I want to be. Thanks!

Aaron

I do not agree
Date: 6/18/2012
I used this bmi calculator and it says that I am obese. I do not agree. I am 5’4″ and carry the majority of my weight in my breast. (Full D) I wear a size 7, which I consider a normal size. I do not exercise a whole lot though. I am not super skinny, but I am by no means fat. I really hate this BMI chart. I do not feel like it works for everyone or every body type.

Katie

Acknowledge the muscle
Date: 7/12/2012
I think this tool is much more reflective of my body type than typical BMI calculators. I have always been quite athletic, and tend to have muscular legs. Therefore, when using standard BMI calculators I always came out closer to being obese! I know I am not a small gal, but it’s nice to have an index that actually acknowledges the weight I have as muscle (a good thing!), rather than it being fat.

Meg

Am I healthy?
7/15/2012
I am a college track athlete I am a javelin thrower. I Weigh 150 and am 5’6. I would like to loose a couple pounds but don’t know what drugs are acceptable and which are not. Am I healthy?

Amber

AskDocWeb: You have a healthy BMI, which is in the desirable range. Drugs are generally not prescribed for those who want to lose only a couple of pounds. For that you may want to consider increasing the quality of the food you eat – more nutritious and less processed foods. Read more Feedback. BMI Report – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – Page 10 – 11 – 12 – 13 – 14 – Last Page 16

Related links:

Body Mass Index for those with an athletic build. Calorie Calculator to find the number of calories you burn each day.

Calculate your Ideal Weight for Adults.