Comments on: Is Calculating BMI Complicated for you? Professor Invents “Maximum Weight Limit” Formula to Determine Ideal Weight

By: Ryan

Ryan — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:49:24 +0000

I can see the value of this chart. It’s to PREVENT people from becoming overweight. For example, I am 6′2″ and I weigh 180 lbs; according to this chart my MAXIMUM weight limit it 200. So if I exceed 200 lbs, I will be considered “overweight” and my risk for developing chronic diseases (associated with being overweight/obese) will increase. This chart is much more practical than the BMI chart, because it uses “weight” as the unit of measurement, which is what I see on my weight-scale every morning. Now I know that I should never exceed 200lbs.

By: Monica

Monica — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 03:40:41 +0000

Annette,

It is interesting that you assume that I am overweight just because you are. I am a competitive taekwondo fighter (for the last 7 years) with excellent muscle tone. My body fat is SUBSTANTIALLY less than yours because of the leg and abdominal muscle tone that I have developed over the years. My body weight is 130 at 5′4″ and I have visible muscles in my arms legs and stomach. I am happy with my body this way as opposed to just being skinny because I know how much work it took to get this way.

For people that are muscular and fit 125lbs at 5ft is not obese and not necessarily unhealthy. When you were a much younger woman you may have maintained a lifestyle that kept you at a much lighter weight, but I hate to break it to you… it was an unhealthy weight then and it still would be now.

You sound like one of those women who have trouble coming to grips with the fact that they are now old and can’t look the way they did when they were my age.

If you are happy getting back to 103 lbs then that is your business but don’t get onto a comment board espousing that your manner of thinking is the end all be all. And don’t send your hate my way just because I and many other people on this thread told you the truth about yourself.

By: Annette

Annette — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:34:11 +0000

Monica, clearly you are one of those women who is pushing maximum density (with your body and your mouth).

A maximum weight of 125 lbs. at 5 feet tall is obese–as are corresponding heights/weights using that formula for women. What I meant to say, is according to that formula, it would be OKAY if I GAINED 13.5 lbs.–I would still be within the parameters. But in reality, at 130 lbs., I am already obese. 38% body fat shouldn’t be anyone’s goal. And yes, even at a Size 6, my body fat test (calipers) was 38%.

For your information, all the years I weighed 103 lbs., I ate whatever I wanted and could easily polish off a medium pizza in one sitting. I had an active lifestyle (martial arts, dancing, roller skating) and trained in the gym 3-4 days a week, so I burned the calories I consumed. And for 18 of those 24 years, I was a vegetarian (and still am). I certainly wasn’t starving myself, so you can save your vitriol and focus it on losing some weight. Just cutting off 10 lbs. of bad attitude will go a long way.

By: Monica

Monica — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:36:23 +0000

Annette,

Clearly you are one of those people that like to shoot their mouth (keyboard) off without knowing what they are talking about. The calculations refer to the MAXIMUM weight for the persons height not the RECOMMENDED weight. Therefore if you are 5 feet tall then you should begin worrying about your weight if you are anything OVER 125 lbs. Anything under that is fine.

Really, at the age of 42 you should be able to comprehend a basic concept like that. Clearly all of those years of starving yourself thin have done something to your brain cells.

By: Caroline

Caroline — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:27:40 +0000

Annette,
Read the title “maximum weight limit”. That means that is the highest number you should read on the scale… if the test was for the “minimum” weight limit then your assertion that you have to gain 13.5lbs would be accurate – get a dictionary!

By: Debbie

Debbie — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 22:20:24 +0000

Annette, your estimate wouldn’t work for me. I’m now 5 foot even and I would be happy to be 125 although that would be 8 pounds heavier than what I weighed in HS when I was just short of 2 inches taller. My bet is my wrists are much bigger than yours because of my ethnicity (basically Irish/Cherokee). There really is such a thing as being big boned and I am.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:11:37 +0000

I’m with Annette. She’s so right, and the other formula is SOOOO wrong. Get out of the U.S. and see what’s normal, and then stick with Annette…

By: kenneth

kenneth — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:25:39 +0000

I find these indexes very interesting. How many football players would fit these? I have a large skeleton and a fair amount of muscle. I would have to consume my muscle and some bones to get to these indexes. Be real,many of us have been fed hormone fattened meat and milk since the our first day of our birth. I would have to give up probably 2 legs to reach my ideal weight. I would rather duck when going through doors and go side ways through doors than make my body fit some arbitrary index. To me,a railroad tie is a bit too much now, age 60, to pickup; but I never thought anything about lifting them and carrying them to a job site, age 30 to 45.

By: Marji

Marji — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:23:38 +0000

I agree totally with Annette – I’m 5′5″ and used to weight 105 pounds but now weigh closer to 113 – the only time I weighed more was when I was pregnant. If I added 4.5 pounds for every since over 5′ starting with 125 pounds I’d be totally OBESE – no thank you…even the 5 pounds for every inch after starting at 100 pounds for 5 feet is a little too much – I’ll stick with the BMI calculators online!!!

By: Debbie

Debbie — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:09:57 +0000

Wow…so if you’re exactly 5′ tall and you’re a woman, your baseline and your max are the same? Makes no sense to me! I am 46, exactly 5′tall and currently 125 (your baseline), I know very well I should be 10 pounds lighter. I’m not looking for a zero, or for my bones to stick out, I work out every day, have for the last 4 years, but still have a layer of fat that is more than just a pinch. When I was 7 pounds lighter, I felt much better and leaner and knew even then, I could lose 5+ more in areas. The formula makes some sense for men, but for women this is just a license for them to think they are fine when they really should lose a few more pounds.