Why BMI is BullshitI started CrossFit in March 2010. The past 14 years of CrossFit have provided me with one of the most fun, challenging and rewarding athletic endeavors in which I have participated. CrossFit introduced me to obstacle course racing (I have completed 2 races) and, of course, Olympic Weightlifting (I was the 2019 World Champion in my age and weight class.) In the past 14 years my body has changed DRAMATICALLY! At the hight of my Masters Olympic Weightlifting career I could deadlift and back squat 300 pounds, I could clean and jerk 200 pounds, I snatched 165 pounds, and could still row a 5K in under 24 mins. I can do MORE now at age 52 than I could when I was a young Corporal in the US Marines. But do you know what hasn't changed in the past 13 years? My Body Mass Index. Body Mass Index is the mathematical relationship between your weight and height. You can find your BMI by going to your Weigh Ins page of your BTWB app. It's calculated for you every time we take your weight and measurements during our quarterly check-ins. The BMI is a controversial statistic and its critics argue that since it does not measure body fat it's not useful. I agree with this criticism. BMI is a diagnostic tool that insurance companies and health care providers use and it tells us NOTHING about how healthy we are. A story from NPR Life Kit describes the history of BMI: The body mass index was created by a 19th-century Belgian statistician named Adolphe Quetelet. It was built as a tool to assess weight distribution across populations and was based on his idea of "the ideal man," using a small sampling of the size and measurements of white, male Scottish and French soldiers. If you are a Scottish or French male soldier then BMI might tell you something. But if you're not, it's a totally worthless measurement. It also has a link to the Nazi's. How gross is that? The BMI measurement was used by the Nazi's for their disgusting Eugenics program. You can read about that here.
So, the next time you're getting your annual check-up and someone fusses about your BMI, ask them why it's a problem. Ask them for a body fat test. As them for a step-up test. Ask them for an EKG. Ask them for any other test that will show how amazing your health is, regardless of your weight! What your body can DO is a better test of your health. How you FEEL in your body is a better test of your health. Your BMI is bullshit and I encourage you to tell your health provider WHY it means nothing!
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