http://www.physorg.com/news88794468.html

I"d hesitate to trust any study using BMI on athletes. My height demands a max weight of 155lbs, which was my weight in highschool when I was in better shape than probably 90% of the population as a swimmer competative on the state level.

With athletes, even highschool athletes (or especially highschool athletes because they are near the prime for athletic muscle building) the BMI standard correlating height to weight is wildly misleading because it has no means for accounting for wt% of muscle vs. fat. A much better measurable is % body fat, which measures the density of the body.

I somewhat agree with you, but % body fat is not the only answer either. Being over weight is unhealthy whether that weight be from fat or muscle. Being overly muscled is just as much a strain on your cardiovascular and skeletal systems as being fat. You can have almost zero body fat and still be overweight for your frame by being too muscular.

@Rusty - what do you base that on? Sounds like pure conjecture - I've yet to see any study that demonstrates weight due to increased muscle mass has effects comparable obsesity (by definition due to excess adipose) ... BMI is horribly flawed and it's really upsetting to see a study like this.

I'm 36 yrs., 5'10", 200 lbs, with 11% body fat. Pretty damn overweight by BMI standards. But I run 15 mi. a week, and all my vitals are great. Granted, I'm a corner case that BMI is really not supposed to cover. But what do you think highschool football players are?

I agree that obesity is a problem - but I fear the alarm is being amplified by drug companies in search of another disease; and BMI only allows us to inflate the apparent problem. Hmm. Wonder who funded the study?

It is simple anatomy, the human skeleton is not supposed to being carrying the extra weight. Having the extra weight on the skeleton, no matter what the source, will cause increased wear and tear on the skeletal and cardiovascular structures. It is therefore, unhealthy. Is it point for point the exact same health risk as being overweight due to fat (obese)? No, but it is the same strain on the skeletal and cardiovascular system. But I am by no means saying that being overweight due to muscle mass is the same health risk as being obese.

I'm sorry but these doctors got it all wrong!! I'm a sophomore in high school. I play defensive end. I'm 6' 2" 240 pounds. but I ain't got any fat on me hell I got a six pack, I have went to 7 different sites and they all say I'm obese. the doctors need to change their thesis on this whole weight thing.

I am sorry, but you got it all wrong. Read those sites you went to closer. It is nearly always explained that a muscular person can be overweight but not obese. You are not obese, but you are overweight for you frame.

HS football player weight (post)

You are still incorrect As BMI in no way can take in-a-count your bone density/skeletal structure/etc - So BMI is completely inaccurate for people with high muscle density.

Correlation between athletes and higher BONE MASS DENSITY
Quote” The male athletes had a 3% higher BMD for the total body and 12% for the hip.”

Meaning that there bodies are built for the increased weight etc unlike a normal overweight/fat person

BMI is only for Joe fool who is not build like an athlete