Know the Difference; BMI & Bodyfat
posted on March 24, 2021
Let’s talk about BMI & Body Fat %. Both are useful tools to determine overall body fat and certain weight related health risks.
BMI stands for Body Mass Index, which can be calculated by taking your weight in kilograms divided by the square of your height in meters, or just use any BMI calculator online. BMI is a quick screening tool that can determine your body fat and risk of certain weight related health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, increased blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other health risks. BMI is not perfect though and should really only be taken as a surface layer scan. BMI does not directly assess body fat. Muscle and bone are denser than fat so BMI can overestimate body fat in athletes or more active populations or underestimate body fat and bone density in older or more sedentary populations. Remember BMI does not consider, activity, health history, diet, if you smoke or drink, age, race, gender and more. You are more than a number, and this is just a surface level screening tool.
Body Fat % research has greatly improved over the years and is a better overall picture of weight related disease by distinguishing body fat from muscle. Body fat % tests are not as quick as BMI screenings but because of that, they can be more individualized. Some common and readily available BF% tests are done with skinfold calipers or bioelectrical impedance scales & the ease of access can sometimes provide user errors. However, water displacement, bodpods and X-rays can be much more accurate, yet a bit harder to get to. If you have a reliable skinfold tester, they can be pretty accurate and quick to gather results.
Remember this information is all out there at your fingertips, I just wanted to give you a quick spark of information to clear up any misconceptions or to jolt conversation or curiosity.
Stay Bumpy my friends,
CeJ
Read More
