Anyway, talking about weight is like talking about healthcare or religion. It's never a good idea. 

So what are your opinions on gun control? 

Anyway, I'm going to go get a snack from the vending machine now.

I agree that less weight equals more speed, which is why I'm dropping another 20lbs before my marathon in March.  But you can still have some decent speed even with a relatively high BMI.  I ran my 5:39 mile last month with a BMI of 26.4 (195lbs).  Granted, I would have gone faster if I was sitting at 23.7 (175lbs), which is where I'll be for my marathon, and that's still just barely inside the "normal" range.

 

 

While BMI was originally designed for population studies,  it is intended - in it's modern usage - to be an individual assessment.  Which was my point in showing that picture - that it's a crappy number for individual body composition or health/fitness.  I could show you 10 people with BMI of 24 and there would be more differences than similarities - some at a healthy weight, some not.

Then you should show those pictures to be fair. That was my point. Every thread that I've read about BMI always ends up with people posting pictures and talking about people who have high BMI's and remarking about how fit they are. If they aren't saying it, they are implying it. Be fair and post pictures of large GROUPS of people with similar BMI's and have the discussion on what it is to be fit and healthy.

Pretty much how BMI should be used.

And I have an issue with your statement of "modern usage". While it has morphed into another number for individual assessment it has been made to be used that way because it is a simple concept to understand for a lot of simple people out there. But that is another topic for another day.

 

The analogy there was just because one person does something, does not mean that everyone could, can, or will do the same thing.

Yes. I was using it in the context of just because this person has a BMI of 24 doesn't mean that every person that has a BMI of 24 is as fit or healthy.

To-may-to, to-mah-to

I think it all gets mixed up when you don't specify the goal.  There is HUGE difference between performance, health and appearance.  A low body fat is great, but a bodybuilder ain't an elite runner.  The elite runner, and the bodybuilder may both be healthy, but not necassarily as healthy as someone with a higher bmi or bf%.  As for appearance, thats completely subjective.  I'm just going to say it.  The Olympics are full of atheletes that aren't necassarily concerned with health.  There are very healthy people who will never do anything all that impressive athleticly.  We have to be specific about our goals.

 

Also - I attempted to find a bunch of women who are 5'5" and 145 pounds in Google and failed. 

Is this what you're looking for?

LRB and I were just discussing a mutual acquaintance the other day.  He's one giant muscle with almost no bodyfat.  He's losing weight right now in the form of sacrificing muscle mass for the sake of a faster marathon.  He's performance driven.  Most would say he has no weight to lose, and they'd be wrong.

 

Right, that's my point.  Originally it was to Happylily's point that "everyone at 24 BMI could stand to lose weight".  I just pointed out that nothing is "all or nothing" when it comes to this sort of thing.

 

I think we're actually saying the same thing.   Maybe. lol