Don't get lost in this debate. Your doc can talk to you about BMI, or they can talk to you about your muffin top or cankles or whatever you prefer. Just lose some weight already. Your ponderous girth is sinking our healthcare system and overflowing into my airplane seat.

Talking about BMI is roughly as useful in determining health as discussing a persons zodiac sign. "Well, you're a cancer so I'm suggesting you get your prostate examined 5 times as often...

The problem is if we "fat guys" go by BMI, we wind up with impossible weight goals that could cause further health problems. The strategy for losing 15lbs is very different from the strategy for losing 65lbs (and no, it's not just "eat less, exercise more"). And yes, BMI can be off to the tune of 50lbs or more.

gadgetgirl02:

The problem is if we "fat guys" go by BMI, we wind up with impossible weight goals that could cause further health problems. The strategy for losing 15lbs is very different from the strategy for losing 65lbs (and no, it's not just "eat less, exercise more"). And yes, BMI can be off to the tune of 50lbs or more.

No, it actually still is eat less, exercise more, it's just that most don't have the mental fortitude to do it. Thus instead it becomes, take drug X, get stomach stapling surgery, or else go on the all-crack diet.

If you took all of America's obese and stuck them on an island, "lost" style, where all food had to be hunted for or found, you would find you didn't have a single obese person at the end of a year.