BMI Calculator

As a fitness professional I am troubled by the advice you are prescribing above.  At no stage do you mention that BMI values of 25+ (deemed overweight by the Department of Health) can also include those people with a higher percentage of lean muscle, something not picked up on by BMI measurements alone. To my knowledge there is no valid research to suggest that these people have higher risks of disease/ illness; rather they will have usually have higher resting metabolic rates and similar if not lower risks of conditions such as Osteoporosis given increased Bone Density levels due to load-bearing resistance training.   My second point is regarding the myth of running 'long and slow' as a way of burning more calories from the 'fat burning zone'.  It is long established in the fitness community that the greatest methods of calorie burning and fitness-gaining exercises are High-Intensity Interval training (e.g. Spinning, Interval-based track sessions, etc) and Metabolic resistance training (Kettlebell circuits, etc.)  Studies now also suggest that long endurance runs may also raise Cortisol levels to abnormally inflated levels which can cause problems relating to Adrenal burnout and maintaining bodyfat around the waist.   As with all journalism please present both sides of a discussion so people are able to make educated choices using the information given.  Jamie. 

Posted: 14/10/2010 at 16:53

My BMI comes out at 24.69 - so not far off the overweight bracket. I am 5ft 6 and weight 10 stone 13 - however I am a size 10 on my top half and 12/14 bottom half due a somewhat curvy behind - hardly huge. Instead I am fit and have a relatively high proportion of muscle (heavier than fat). Although I think the BMI calculator is generally a good indicator it's important for people to realise it doesn't work with all body types.

Posted: 28/01/2011 at 17:54