I remember going for a medical years ago, mid 20s, fighting fit, played squash 3-4 times a week and did lots of weights, played rugby, football and cycled everywhere. I was 5'9"' and weighed in at just under 12 1/2 stone. Doctor told me I was overweight according to my BMI. I told him what I did for exercise etc and diet and his response was the only way I would get to a 'healthy' BMI was to lose a limb. He told me to just ignore my BMI.
According to BMI index every pro and many amateur rugby players would probably be classified as overweight or obese.
I am not sure the BMI measure has ever been a useful tool for assessing healthy body weight or for identifying who needs medical help particularly we now see huge demand for weight loss drugs. I would be glad to see it go.
Re: BMI
Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2025 10:10 am
by Tichtheid
Yeah, a much better and much simpler rule of thumb is that your waist measurement should be less than half your height.
Re: BMI
Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2025 12:37 pm
by Uncle fester
Tichtheid wrote: Wed Jan 15, 2025 10:10 am
Yeah, a much better and much simpler rule of thumb is that your waist measurement should be less than half your height.
Tichtheid wrote: Wed Jan 15, 2025 10:10 am
Yeah, a much better and much simpler rule of thumb is that your waist measurement should be less than half your height.
Hadn't heard that one before.
*Checks*
Try doing it laying on your side. The number might come out better.
Tichtheid wrote: Wed Jan 15, 2025 10:10 am
Yeah, a much better and much simpler rule of thumb is that your waist measurement should be less than half your height.
Hadn't heard that one before.
*Checks*
Try doing it laying on your side. The number might come out better.
Unless you’ve bulked up over the years, you’d be ok if you were only 4’11” tall you bloody goalpost
Re: BMI
Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2025 1:04 pm
by inactionman
I'm OK as long as I measure waist in imperial and height in metric
Re: BMI
Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2025 1:30 pm
by Yeeb
inactionman wrote: Wed Jan 15, 2025 1:04 pm
I'm OK as long as I measure waist in imperial and height in metric
Miles / millimetres ?
Re: BMI
Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2025 1:30 pm
by robmatic
dpedin wrote: Wed Jan 15, 2025 10:04 am
Interesting article about research on the use of BMI on BBC website
I remember going for a medical years ago, mid 20s, fighting fit, played squash 3-4 times a week and did lots of weights, played rugby, football and cycled everywhere. I was 5'9"' and weighed in at just under 12 1/2 stone. Doctor told me I was overweight according to my BMI. I told him what I did for exercise etc and diet and his response was the only way I would get to a 'healthy' BMI was to lose a limb. He told me to just ignore my BMI.
According to BMI index every pro and many amateur rugby players would probably be classified as overweight or obese.
I am not sure the BMI measure has ever been a useful tool for assessing healthy body weight or for identifying who needs medical help particularly we now see huge demand for weight loss drugs. I would be glad to see it go.
Back when I was running an ultramarathon every month I was at the 'fat' end of healthy according to the BMI scale, and I am someone who is not at all muscular.
However, it is also not unusual to hear people complain about BMI being useless and them being obviously overweight and unfit: they just don't want to hear what they are being told.
Re: BMI
Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2025 5:21 pm
by Blackmac
I remember when I left the forces to join the Police I had to undergo a discharge medical. I was 24 and in superb shape. Just under 6'5 and 16 stone 8 of solid muscle. The nurse claimed that her charts showed I was clinically obese and I would have to be reviewed by the head medical officer. Needless to say the doctor was pretty pissed off at the waste of time.
Re: BMI
Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2025 6:21 pm
by Uncle fester
Blackmac wrote: Wed Jan 15, 2025 5:21 pm
I remember when I left the forces to join the Police I had to undergo a discharge medical. I was 24 and in superb shape. Just under 6'5 and 16 stone 8 of solid muscle. The nurse claimed that her charts showed I was clinically obese and I would have to be reviewed by the head medical officer. Needless to say the doctor was pretty pissed off at the waste of time.
About 105 kg.
You'd be too light for pro level rugby at that height!
Blackmac wrote: Wed Jan 15, 2025 5:21 pm
I remember when I left the forces to join the Police I had to undergo a discharge medical. I was 24 and in superb shape. Just under 6'5 and 16 stone 8 of solid muscle. The nurse claimed that her charts showed I was clinically obese and I would have to be reviewed by the head medical officer. Needless to say the doctor was pretty pissed off at the waste of time.
About 105 kg.
You'd be too light for pro level rugby at that height!
Yeah. 18 months earlier I was sitting at 112kg when I was playing but had slimmed down following my back break and efforts to get fitter for the police fitness test. I think my ideal weight was about 13 stone 10 which was essentially unachievable.
Blackmac wrote: Wed Jan 15, 2025 5:21 pm
I remember when I left the forces to join the Police I had to undergo a discharge medical. I was 24 and in superb shape. Just under 6'5 and 16 stone 8 of solid muscle. The nurse claimed that her charts showed I was clinically obese and I would have to be reviewed by the head medical officer. Needless to say the doctor was pretty pissed off at the waste of time.
About 105 kg.
You'd be too light for pro level rugby at that height!
Yeah. 18 months earlier I was sitting at 112kg when I was playing but had slimmed down following my back break and efforts to get fitter for the police fitness test. I think my ideal weight was about 13 stone 10 which was essentially unachievable.
I just checked my BMI on the NHS site. I'm, 6'1 and I'd need to be twelve and half stones to be at the higher end of the "healthy" scale. The last time I was twelve and half stones was when I was at school.
When I was playing rugby, training and working full time as an agricultural fencing contractor - ie working out all day long, I was very nearly obese according to the NHS calculator, with a 33 inch waist in jeans.
About 105 kg.
You'd be too light for pro level rugby at that height!
Yeah. 18 months earlier I was sitting at 112kg when I was playing but had slimmed down following my back break and efforts to get fitter for the police fitness test. I think my ideal weight was about 13 stone 10 which was essentially unachievable.
I just checked my BMI on the NHS site. I'm, 6'1 and I'd need to be twelve and half stones to be at the higher end of the "healthy" scale. The last time I was twelve and half stones was when I was at school.
When I was playing rugby, training and working full time as an agricultural fencing contractor - ie working out all day long, I was very nearly obese according to the NHS calculator, with a 33 inch waist in jeans.
I think the BMI score would have made more sense with a post-war malnourished and hence shorter populace but as people have got taller it's just random. It doesn't scale well.
When I was 21 I was 6'5" and 14 stone, which is apparently healthy but to the heavier end. I was playing tennis a lot and skinny as a rake and surviving on occasional bits of toast at university. I thought I was underweight.
To give some balance, I'd need to shift about 4 stone to be healthy which to be honest is probably about right.
Re: BMI
Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2025 12:00 pm
by sockwithaticket
I'm 5'7, usually around 77 - 80kg with a 30 - 32 inch waist and the BMI calculator usually has me smack bang in the middle of the overweight band. It's just not really designed to deal with those who are more muscular than the average person.
Let's face it, the majority of people consulting the BMI to find out whether or not they're overweight, aren't going to be the especially active.
To give some balance, I'd need to shift about 4 stone to be healthy which to be honest is probably about right.
A jar of pickled mussels might do the trick - I lost nearly 12 kilos in as many days due to them.
I couldn't leave more than five metres between me and a toilet for around five days, didn't regain an appetite for a month.
I went to Brussels when I was younger and wasn't quite selective enough about not eating mussels that hadn't opened by themselves.
Spent the whole next day sat on the throne. Luckily I could see the hotel room telly from it.
Re: BMI
Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2025 12:05 pm
by Yeeb
Police fitness test - lolz.
For every fit wiry England rugby international psycho who plays for Thames valley or Met police , there are 2 fat sweaty cops (as pasriched in fast show) / Hooks from police academy
To give some balance, I'd need to shift about 4 stone to be healthy which to be honest is probably about right.
A jar of pickled mussels might do the trick - I lost nearly 12 kilos in as many days due to them.
I couldn't leave more than five metres between me and a toilet for around five days, didn't regain an appetite for a month.
They do say you never eat petrol station sushi, but I suppose if you want to lose weight fast .....
Re: BMI
Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2025 4:17 pm
by Blackmac
Yeeb wrote: Thu Jan 16, 2025 12:05 pm
Police fitness test - lolz.
For every fit wiry England rugby international psycho who plays for Thames valley or Met police , there are 2 fat sweaty cops (as pasriched in fast show) / Hooks from police academy
Back when I joined it was quite stringent. 6 disciplines each with a target to get 100 points.
Mile and a half run. 100 points was 7 minutes ish.
2 minutes of sit ups. 100 points was 115
2 minutes press up. 100 points was 102
2 minutes burpees. 100 points was 60
Overhand pull ups. 100 points was 16
6 x 50m shuttles. 100 points was 40 seconds.
This was all done within a 2 hour period. If I recall the minimum pass mark was about 380. No one had ever achieved 600.
Re: BMI
Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2025 4:50 pm
by Sandstorm
Blackmac wrote: Thu Jan 16, 2025 4:17 pm
2 minutes of sit ups. 100 points was 115
Yeeb wrote: Thu Jan 16, 2025 12:05 pm
Police fitness test - lolz.
For every fit wiry England rugby international psycho who plays for Thames valley or Met police , there are 2 fat sweaty cops (as pasriched in fast show) / Hooks from police academy
Back when I joined it was quite stringent. 6 disciplines each with a target to get 100 points.
Mile and a half run. 100 points was 7 minutes ish.
2 minutes of sit ups. 100 points was 115
2 minutes press up. 100 points was 102
2 minutes burpees. 100 points was 60
Overhand pull ups. 100 points was 16
6 x 50m shuttles. 100 points was 40 seconds.
This was all done within a 2 hour period. If I recall the minimum pass mark was about 380. No one had ever achieved 600.
Some of the gimps and box ticking excercises I see in uniform now , could not get 38 let alone 380.
Social media the other week saw one lad just laugh off getting sprayed and whacked with the Asp as was attempted to be nicked by about 4 sprog cops, the one lady was whacking him on the knee as he was walking and I swear he didn’t even notice
Yeeb wrote: Thu Jan 16, 2025 12:05 pm
Police fitness test - lolz.
For every fit wiry England rugby international psycho who plays for Thames valley or Met police , there are 2 fat sweaty cops (as pasriched in fast show) / Hooks from police academy
Back when I joined it was quite stringent. 6 disciplines each with a target to get 100 points.
Mile and a half run. 100 points was 7 minutes ish.
2 minutes of sit ups. 100 points was 115
2 minutes press up. 100 points was 102
2 minutes burpees. 100 points was 60
Overhand pull ups. 100 points was 16
6 x 50m shuttles. 100 points was 40 seconds.
This was all done within a 2 hour period. If I recall the minimum pass mark was about 380. No one had ever achieved 600.
Some of the gimps and box ticking excercises I see in uniform now , could not get 38 let alone 380.
Social media the other week saw one lad just laugh off getting sprayed and whacked with the Asp as was attempted to be nicked by about 4 sprog cops, the one lady was whacking him on the knee as he was walking and I swear he didn’t even notice
Yeah, totally agree. Some of the images we see of cops struggling to arrest suspects are horrific.
Yeeb wrote: Thu Jan 16, 2025 12:05 pm
Police fitness test - lolz.
For every fit wiry England rugby international psycho who plays for Thames valley or Met police , there are 2 fat sweaty cops (as pasriched in fast show) / Hooks from police academy
Back when I joined it was quite stringent. 6 disciplines each with a target to get 100 points.
Mile and a half run. 100 points was 7 minutes ish.
2 minutes of sit ups. 100 points was 115
2 minutes press up. 100 points was 102
2 minutes burpees. 100 points was 60
Overhand pull ups. 100 points was 16
6 x 50m shuttles. 100 points was 40 seconds.
This was all done within a 2 hour period. If I recall the minimum pass mark was about 380. No one had ever achieved 600.
Pfffff, Brian Jack's would have gotten 700 pts, then got back on his bike & cycled up Mont Ventoux
Just a sidetrack , but social media has lots of ‘Bristol in the 1970’s’ and ‘retro toys and games’ or ‘Maidenhead memories’ type photo groups where oldies wobble on about old Debenham’s buildings being demolished and the like - now, I’m approaching oldies age and always loved simcity style how places have changed photos, but the one glaring common ground with the old photos (apart from certain places ethnic mix) is how slim and athletic pretty much everyone looked.
Pub knees up Xmas 1974 - everyone smoking, women all in tiny skirts , men with ridiculous hair, everyone slim looking
Summer 1976 cor blimey wasn’t it hot - everyone slim looking
Kids playing in school 1970 - not one fatty Roland chips getting cold lump
To give some balance, I'd need to shift about 4 stone to be healthy which to be honest is probably about right.
A jar of pickled mussels might do the trick - I lost nearly 12 kilos in as many days due to them.
I couldn't leave more than five metres between me and a toilet for around five days, didn't regain an appetite for a month.
I went to Brussels when I was younger and wasn't quite selective enough about not eating mussels that hadn't opened by themselves.
Spent the whole next day sat on the throne. Luckily I could see the hotel room telly from it.
Spent 3 days in a tiny Parisian hotel room tag teaming the toilet with my then girlfriend, now wife, after some dodgy oysters. Awful scenes.
Re: BMI
Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2025 5:38 pm
by fishfoodie
There ought to be some kind of rule that you don't eat shellfish unless you can see where they were landed from your table.
Re: BMI
Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2025 6:15 pm
by robmatic
Yeeb wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2025 9:57 am
Just a sidetrack , but social media has lots of ‘Bristol in the 1970’s’ and ‘retro toys and games’ or ‘Maidenhead memories’ type photo groups where oldies wobble on about old Debenham’s buildings being demolished and the like - now, I’m approaching oldies age and always loved simcity style how places have changed photos, but the one glaring common ground with the old photos (apart from certain places ethnic mix) is how slim and athletic pretty much everyone looked.
Pub knees up Xmas 1974 - everyone smoking, women all in tiny skirts , men with ridiculous hair, everyone slim looking
Summer 1976 cor blimey wasn’t it hot - everyone slim looking
Kids playing in school 1970 - not one fatty Roland chips getting cold lump
You don't even need to travel back in time, I've been back in the UK this week and people are noticeably heftier than back in the Aegean. Presumably this is mostly diet-related because Turks are allergic to sport and exercise.
Yeeb wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2025 9:57 am
Just a sidetrack , but social media has lots of ‘Bristol in the 1970’s’ and ‘retro toys and games’ or ‘Maidenhead memories’ type photo groups where oldies wobble on about old Debenham’s buildings being demolished and the like - now, I’m approaching oldies age and always loved simcity style how places have changed photos, but the one glaring common ground with the old photos (apart from certain places ethnic mix) is how slim and athletic pretty much everyone looked.
Pub knees up Xmas 1974 - everyone smoking, women all in tiny skirts , men with ridiculous hair, everyone slim looking
Summer 1976 cor blimey wasn’t it hot - everyone slim looking
Kids playing in school 1970 - not one fatty Roland chips getting cold lump
You don't even need to travel back in time, I've been back in the UK this week and people are noticeably heftier than back in the Aegean. Presumably this is mostly diet-related because Turks are allergic to sport and exercise.
I forget what the exact catchy phrase is, but it's something like form from the gym, figure from the kitchen. Essentially, you can't out-exercise a poor diet and if you want to fit your clothes you need to look at food first.
And related to what Yeeb's saying. I did most of my growing up in the 00s and it seems like everyone was trimmer back then too. Having gone into secondary teaching and then working on a university campus for the last decade or so it's quite noticeable how many more chubby and overweight students there were than I remember being the case when I was their respective ages.
The 90s and 00s copped a lot of flack, some of it justified, for the idolisation of Kate Moss and 'heroin chic', but I'm not sure that was worse than the spiralling overweight and obesity crisis. Ideally we could have a happy medium, but there's not much evidence of one so far.
