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How can you have a high BMI but low body fat?
How muscular you are: A few people have high BMIs but don’t have much body fat. Their muscle tissue pushes up their weight. An example: “A football player or a body builder who is very muscular. Their BMI shows up pretty high, and yet their body fat is actually pretty low,” Kahan says.
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.
Can you have a high BMI and be fit?
The formula doesn’t take important factors into consideration including family medical history, genetics, lifestyle, age, gender and muscle mass. Depending on many of those factors in your own life, you could be perfectly healthy even with a higher BMI.
Is body fat percentage more accurate than BMI?
Body fat percentage distinguishes fat from muscle and calculates the percentage of body fat in the body. While BMI is a rough estimate of body fat, body fat percentage is a more accurate number. Likewise, a person of normal weight on the BMI scales may still be overfat and at risk of weight-related diseases.
What is the highest BMI you can have?
A BMI of 18.5–24.9 indicates that a person has a healthy weight for their height. By maintaining a healthy weight, they can lower their risk of developing serious health problems. A BMI of 25–29.9 indicates that a person is slightly overweight….BMI categories.
| Below 18.5 | Underweight |
|---|---|
| 25–29.9 | Overweight |
| 30 and above | Obese |
Is a BMI of 27 bad?
New research has found a body mass index (BMI) of 27 is linked to the lowest rate of death – but someone with a BMI of 27 is currently classed as being overweight. Currently, a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is classified as being overweight.
Is a BMI of 28 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 BMI accurate for all body types?
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 26.6 percentage body fat bad?
Having too little body fat can also be harmful, potentially affecting fertility, immunity, and heart health. Body mass index (BMI) is a rough estimate of body fat percentage….Age 40–49.
| Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| excellent | 8–17.4\% |
| good | 17.5–20.6\% |
| fair | 20.7–23.4\% |
| poor | 23.5–26.6\% |
Does muscle affect BMI?
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.
Is a BMI of 30 healthy?
If your BMI is less than 18.5, it falls within the underweight range. If your BMI is 18.5 to <25, it falls within the healthy weight range. If your BMI is 25.0 to <30, it falls within the overweight range. If your BMI is 30.0 or higher, it falls within the obesity range.