This is taken from the BMI charts
According to my BMI, from a formula devised in 1832. I am obese. However, so is probably the
entire NFL? The formula involves dividing a persons weight by their height,
squared. I am 5’7” or 67 inches tall. However in my youth – before I started to
lose height due to aging – I was 5’9 or 69 inches tall. My weight is 113.7 Kg
or 250.7 pounds. Therefore the according to the formula my BMI is 37.0.
The BMI ranges are:
·
18.5 or less Underweight
·
18.8 - 24.9 Normal weight
·
25 – 29.9 Overweight
·
30 or greater Obese
What are the problems with using BMI?
·
Actual measurements of body fat are ignored
·
Bone Structure is ignored
·
Gender is ignored
·
Fat to Muscle ratio is ignored
·
Race is ignored
·
Nutrition is ignored
·
Genetics is ignored
·
Age is ignored
The entire concept of
analyzing dead people for their BMI has, to my knowledge, never done. According to the website The-f-word
[2]The project was intended to describe the
standard proportions of the human build. The equation was largely ignored
by the medical community even though insurance companies began using somewhat
vague comparisons of height and weight among policyholders beginning in the
early twentieth century.
Therefore the most commonly
used measurement of human size to weight was instigated as a means of denying
life insurance to large men. I cannot
find any reputable study measuring the correlation between height and weight.
What is an appropriate
sample size? World population is estimated at seven billion (7,000,000,000)
people. If we are looking for a 90% confidence level; assuming that the
statistic will be statistically significant[3]; yields a sample size of
15,006.
For an overly obvious
example; some assumptions have been made – Geography – do you take the sample
in an American community? Do you take the sample in an Asian community?
Do you see my feelings about
BMI? It is impossible to accurately compute. It makes assumptions that are not
valid. Most importantly, age, body type and family are ignored. While BMI is an invalid statistic with no
actual statistical validity, it is commonly used by the advertising community.
So, dear doctor, shall we
discuss me as an individual and lose the shamanistic bone rattling?