What is the ideal BMI for athletes

The American Exercise Council on Exercise recommends a BMI at or above 18.5 and body fat of 14 percent for women and six percent for men. The best athletes in sprint events tend to have a larger mean mass and height than long-distance runners

What is Usain Bolt's BMI?

Usain Bolt, widely considered the greatest all time sprinter, has a BMI of 24.5. It is useful as a tool to track the average changes over time in populations, but at an individual level it doesn’t really serve as a reliable tool.

Do athletes have a higher BMI?

“Besides muscle, bone density is a big wild card,” Nelson said. And highly trained athletes are at a greater disadvantage: their excess muscle typically puts them at a higher BMI, so they may actually be considered obese.

Is the BMI accurate for athletes?

BMI also fails to account for differences in race, gender and age. … For most people, BMI provides a “reasonable measure” of body fat, but is not accurate for athletes (who weigh more because of muscle) or older people who have lost height, he said. Other methods of measuring body fat also have their pros and cons.

What is a good BMI for a muscular man?

Body Mass Index (BMI) for Men Weigh yourself in the morning before breakfast to find your most accurate weight. Next, measure your full height, and consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s BMI calculator for a more specific result. An ideal BMI for an adult man is between 18.5 and 24.9.

Is a BMI of 18 underweight?

Your body mass index, or BMI, is the relationship between your weight and your height. A BMI of 20-25 is ideal; 25-30 is overweight and over 30 is obese. If your BMI is under 18.5, you’re considered underweight. If your BMI is 18.5-20, you’re a bit underweight and can’t afford to lose more.

Do athletes have a low BMI?

An Australian study showed that elite athletes had an average BMI of 18.6, while the non-elite had an average BMI of 22. A study of 36 professional gymnasts from the US, found a BMI between 14 and 20 (average 17.2), and concluded that a very low BMI negatively affected performance.

Is a BMI of 28.3 good?

Your BMI is 28.3, which puts you in the overweight category. A BMI of greater than 30 is considered obese; 25-29.9 is considered overweight; 18.5-24.9 is normal; and less than 18.5 is underweight.

Should I look at BMI or body fat?

While BMI is a rough estimate of body fat, body fat percentage is a more accurate number. BMI, but not overfat. Likewise, a person of normal weight on the BMI scales may still be overfat and at risk of weight-related diseases.

Is a BMI of 28.5 bad?

A healthy weight is considered to be a BMI of 24 or less. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight. A BMI of 30 and above is considered obese.

Article first time published on

Does BMI apply to muscular people?

BMI (body mass index), which is based on the height and weight of a person, is an inaccurate measure of body fat content and does not take into account muscle mass, bone density, overall body composition, and racial and sex differences, say researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.

Is a BMI of 16 good?

A body mass index of anything under 18.5 is considered underweight and can have potential health consequences, just like a BMI that’s considered obesity. Speak with your doctor if you have a BMI of 16 because this is dangerously low.

What is the lowest BMI ever recorded?

Too Thin. Now back to weight. The lowest BMI recorded was 7.5 (she was only 21 inches tall and died of hypothermia), highest BMIs are around 188 [Guinness World Book of Records].

Is a BMI of 19 good?

A BMI of 19 is considered a healthy weight. With a BMI of 19, no weight loss procedure is necessary or recommended.

Why is my BMI so high but not fat?

Athletes and heavily muscled people may have a high BMI but very little fat (Given an equal volume, muscle weighs more than fat on the scale). To prevent being misclassified based on BMI, some people prefer to have their body fat measured at the gym or their doctor’s office.

What should my muscle be?

According to Withings, normal ranges for muscle mass are: Ages 20-39: 75-89 percent for men, 63-75.5 percent for women. Ages 40-59: 73-86 percent for men, 62-73.5 percent for women. ages 60-79: 70-84 percent for men, 60-72.5 percent for women.

What is a reasonable BMI?

A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered normal; 25 through 29.9 indicates overweight; and 30 or more, obesity. You don’t need to see a doctor to assess your BMI.

What is the correct BMI for my age?

BMIWeight StatusBelow 18.5Underweight18.5—24.9Healthy25.0—29.9Overweight30.0 and AboveObese

Is a BMI of 29 OK?

Body Mass Index (BMI) BMI scores of 20 to 24.9 are considered normal, scores of 25 to 29.9 are overweight, scores of 30 to 34.9 are obese, and scores above 35 are extremely obese. Scores under 20 are considered underweight.

Is a BMI of 25 good?

BMI ranges If your BMI is: below 18.5 – you’re in the underweight range. between 18.5 and 24.9 – you’re in the healthy weight range. between 25 and 29.9 – you’re in the overweight range.

Is a BMI of 24 good?

BMIClassification19 – 24Healthy25 – 29Overweight30+Obese

Is it OK to be overweight with muscle?

Your muscle mass makes up most of your weight BMI doesn’t account for body composition, which means it misses the difference between muscle mass and fat. … Someone who has a high BMI due to muscle mass most likely doesn’t need to worry about the health problems associated with obesity and being overweight.

Am I overweight if I have muscle?

Muscles are denser and heavier than body fat, so if you have high muscle mass, your BMI might indicate that you’re overweight or obese. BMI treats a person’s weight as one entity, instead of accounting for muscles, bone density and fat, which all make up a person’s weight.

Is underweight BMI bad?

Weighing too little can contribute to a weakened immune system, fragile bones and feeling tired. You can check if you’re underweight by using our BMI healthy weight calculator, which shows your body mass index (BMI). If your BMI is below 18.5, this suggests that your weight may be too low.

Is BMI 15 too low?

BMIBMI RangeLess than 15Very severely underweightBetween 15 and 16Severely underweightBetween 16 and 18.5UnderweightBetween 18.5 and 25Healthy weight

Is it OK to be slightly underweight?

Approximately 1.7 percent of the American adult population is underweight, according to the 2011–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. … As long as you’re eating a balanced diet, getting all the nutrients and calories you need, and you have adequate energy, being slightly underweight might be OK for you.

At what BMI do anorexics get hospitalized?

Admission criteria require that patients be less than 70 percent of their ideal body weight, or have a body mass index (BMI) below 15. In a woman who is 5 feet 4 inches tall, that’s about 85 pounds.

Do doctors care if you are underweight?

A doctor can help a person identify the cause of their low BMI and recommend a treatment plan that allows them to gain weight healthfully.

Is a BMI of 9 good?

BMI is a common tool that measures a person’s weight in relation to their height. … A BMI of less than 18.5 means a person is underweight. A BMI of between 18.5 and 24.9 is ideal. A BMI of between 25 and 29.9 is overweight.

Is a BMI of 22 good?

A BMI of 22 is considered normal. With a BMI of 22, no weight loss procedure is necessary or recommended. Useful information: If you have a BMI of 29 or greater than 29 a bariatric surgery procedure will be needed.

At what BMI can you be hospitalized?

for hospitalization: BMI < 13 is an indicatior for certification under the Mental Health Act if the patient refuses admission although BMI < 13 alone is not enough for admission.