That's an unfair picture grouping.

They're ELITE athletes, not just athletes in training... (hell Rulon in that picture would be "extremely" or "morbidly" obese... by BMI standards...)

Plain and simple:

BMI is flawed and does NOT account for muscle mass. Body fat % is more of an appropriate measure, as is pretty well known. Hell, Abdominal circumference (or hip/abdomen circum ratio) is better than BMI at predicting relative health risks...

BMI was pushed for acceptance by the insurance companies as an excuse to charge more for customers. The lobbyists had much to gain from the .gov accepting it as a health standard...

read that last line again.

BMI is much like VO2max, something that is easy to measure, but not necessarily meanginful without additional information.

That said, the OP's point is valid - most of the folks that mock the BMI standards they exceed wouldn't fare so well with a measurement of bodyfat either, a category that includes me.

I'm not sure I quite get the point of the thread? Is it that GD is simply fat and they make excuses as to why or make excuses as to being in better shape and more muscular then they really are?

I've personally run the gamut of weights. I've been as big as 215-220 when bodybuilding with a BF under or at 10%. I've been as light as 162 when racing bikes with a BF around 4-5%. I've been training for BUD/s and fluctuated aroun 175-180 with BF under 10%. Now I am 192'ish and BF is probably 8-10%. I can see most of my abs, rocking a 4 3/4 pack lol!

Having a good BF is easier to do when you eat better.

Oh and I'm 5'10".

I always looked at the BMI as good for fat people and worthless for everyone else.

Yeah, GD typically overestimates muscle mass...but there are a few of us who don't. I'm 5'9" and weighed in at 186 today. I should be at about 180...but no way should I be under that. I've posted pics of myself too, and I don't think anyone would say I'm overweight...

I was actually at the doctor today. I mean they weighted me with shoes on and I had my keys and everything on me. Also had to take a dump. I weighted 182 lbs at 5'9'' My bmi was 27%. idk if that's good or bad. If someone could tell me ? Anyway, when I pinch myself my body fat percentage is like 12%. I'd like to get it to about 8% and weight 175lbs.

Sounds about where I'm at, well, according to the last time I checked. I need to have it checked again. Maybe after I get through this new Y3T workout we just started.

I agree with this 100% and have had a burning hatred for BMI since the day I learned about it.

Even I can admit to the possibility that some of the GD fatties are simply pointing out BMIs flaws to take the attention off of their fatty fat fatness.
But I still don't like the idea of using such an imperfect metric as a measure of health/weight, because it still implies that someone who's "skinny fat" is healthier than someone who is stocky. I know the excuse of being "big boned" gets way over used, but as an x-ray tech I can tell you there are honest to God body types that are dramatically different. You can have a skinny fat girl who's insulin resistant and can't make it up a flight of stairs thinking that she's healthier than someone who is in peak physical condition. It is a dangerous over-simplification.

Again, I do think it's a fair assessment that GD, like much of the population, overestimates their lean mass and underestimates their fat mass. I think the way to change that is to get people interested in getting more fit, not shaming them into fitting into a category. I'd actually like to see a fitness thread in GD, where people can read stories with before and after pictures, kind of like the Paleo thread. Or just make it some kind of competition. I think that would drum up more enthusiasm than telling people they don't meet a nearly useless standard.

Does that say Lisa Leslie is 70 pounds? Or am I just not seeing a 1 in front of that?

The BMI height/weight charts are bunk. The charts are too generic. I'm 6', 181# and 31 inch waist. Those charts say I could be 136# before I was under weight A simple look in the mirror tells the tale. GD doesn't look in the mirror.

I have a BMI chart on my refrigerator that says "Now you don't have to lie about your weight anymore. Now you can lie about your height."

It's okay. Give them a few years and they'll find some other measurement to use...and it will be equally flawed.

According to most charts, I'm dead on at 19...

I don't know about you guys, but I'm fat as hell.

I so want to go there....

The BBQ was good.

This shorts thing. I will have to see it to appreciate it fully.
Show me your legs, Captain Testosterone!!