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 or these calculators?

I focus too much on numbers
Date: 10/14/2013
This is great. I am a female with a high amount of natural muscle mass and strength and people always tell me I look so much smaller than my weight suggests, but having struggled with eating disorders in the past I focus too much on numbers, and this is a nice comparison for how most people see me and how I really look, because normal bmi calculators are off by 3-4 points for how I look. Anyway thanks for this,

Ashley
AskDocWeb: You are welcome Ashley.

Frustrated
Date: 10/29/2013
Thanks for creating this! I’ve always been frustrated by the fact that my BMI has always been on the high side (23.5-24) even though my body fat percentage is pretty low. I am an athletic female. I believe that this calculation more accurately describes where I fit in compared to the average population. So, thanks!

Vanessa
AskDocWeb: You are welcome Vanessa. We appreciate the feedback.

Short note
Date: 11/2/2013
Thanks!

J
AskDocWeb: Now who do you know that you can share this with that would appreciate it.

More accurate BMI
Date: 11/6/2013
I’m currently training 4 times a week for a tournament, almost at my competition weight and in the best condition I’ve been in for years. However traditional bmi calculators have me as bordering on obese. Finally found your measure which has me at 23 which I feel is much more accurate. Thank you.

Simon

BMI calculator
Date: 1/21/2014
Great Tool!

Celine

AskDocWeb: Thanks.

Little body fat
Date: 1/31/2914
I’m 5’9″ 210 and have little body fat. Your scale rates me a 26.

Rodger

AskDocWeb: Yes, that is according to our Lean Body Mass Calculator. That calculator is only for those who are of athletic or muscular build. If you are not very athletic or muscular then the conventional BMI calculator would put you at 31.

Heavily muscled
Date: 2/26/2014
Seems very much more descriptive of my fitness and body fat ratio than the standard test. I cycle 25 miles a day 5 to 7 days a week, so I have heavily muscled legs, slim waist and reasonable upper body strength. Standard BMI says I am just below over weight!

Nigel

What is an athletic build?
Date: 2/26/2014
Do you have measurement for what you consider athletic or is this subjective?

Stacee

AskDocWeb: Medical science has not quantified a definition for an athletic build. In this context “athletic” means having a sturdy and well-muscled body above what is average for most people.

Ultra marathon runner
Date: 3/26/2014
Thank you! I am a marathon and ultra marathon runner, yoga instructor, and I do a lot of strength training to support my running. I have a lot of muscle. Every time I go to the doctor, my BMI is “overweight”, which is depressing because I run a lot of miles and train hard. This BMI feels more like me.

Hathaway

AskDocWeb: Thank you Hathaway. One of the problems with calculating a BMI for the general public is that the basic formula does not make allowances for exceptional individuals. It’s good to hear feedback from people like you who have first-hand experience with this.

Athletic BMI calculator
Date: 4/10/2014
I think the Athletic BMI calculator is quite accurate. I have a dense, muscular build, enhanced by constant exercise. I’m overweight on the traditional calculator, but yours puts me at 20, which matches skinfold test done by a competent trainer. After decades of suffering from restrictive eating disorders, I finally asked for help at 41. My doctor refused to believe I was starving myself because my BMI was “normal.” Thank you for beginning to educate lay and medical experts about BMI!

Abigail

AskDocWeb: You are welcome Abigail.

A more accurate BMI
Date: 4/13/2014
yep. this is a more accurate look at bmi. Still not “accurate” but for athletes one must perform a more thourough test than this simple math. As athletes we carry more lean mass and have far more density than a non athlete. My current BMI is 15% and your calcualter shows 22%. Still yours is superior by far than any other I have found.

Douglas

AskDocWeb: Thanks for your feedback Douglas. We appreciate hearing your opinion of the Lean BMI calculator.

Calculation for lean BMI
Date: 4/17/2014
Thank you, can you tell me the calculation you use? HOw is it different from the “usual” formula…it seems to work and fit a lot better. As a fitness instructor I am “obese” and so are my most loyal participants by other formula. I want to be able to explain what the difference is between the two formulas, not just tell them the numbers. THANK YOU for allowing a formula that encompasses a fit lifestyle.

Kelli

AskDocWeb: You are welcome Kelli. The formula we use for a lean BMI is explained on page 10.

I disagree
Date: 4/28/2014
My weight is 254 and height 6.3 and your calculator says I have BMI 27 which is described as hefty. I do not agree with that because my body fat is 12%

Adam

AskDocWeb: Hi Adam, welcome. You may find it helpful to know that all BMI calculators are only a general indicator of overall health. There are always exceptions to generalizations.

Thank you!!
Date: 5/5/2014
This calculator (BMI for lean body types) just proves what my doctors refused to acknowledge. There are different body types and the regular BMI calculators they use are for white average people. They don’t take into account diversity and are extremely outdated! I’ve grown up with every doctor telling me I’m obese and need to loose 20-30 pounds (and if you’ve seen me you would know that that is nearly impossible without removing limbs). I’ve always been an athlete with an amazing support system which is the only reason I don’t have an eating disorder to fulfill societies twisted version of “ideal”. I appreciate this calculator so much! Thank you for understanding and respecting other body types in an informative way!

Onaleisha

AskDocWeb: You are welcome. Read more Feedback. BMI Report – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 – 11 – Page 12 – 13 – 14 – 15 – 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.