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Is SBMI better than BMI?

Rachox

Oracle
Retired Moderator
Messages
17,540
Location
Oxford
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Since my type 2 diagnosis I have lost a significant amount of weight bringing my BMI down from 44 to 28.
28 is still classed as overweight on the standard BMI calculator, however my weight loss has stalled and I feel comfortable at my current weight. My diabetes nurse and GP seem happy with my current weight too, at least they aren’t nagging me to lose weight anymore!
Doing a bit of research I came across this SBMI, which takes age and gender into the equation which seems a lot more scientific and the result is given as a level of risk rather than just underweight, healthy, overweight or obese.
https://www.smartbmicalculator.com/why-sbmic.html
I fall into the green low risk area when I put my stats into this calculator, which of course I’m pleased about. However am I just kidding myself that I should try harder to lose the last bit to get into the infamous 18 - 25 standard BMI. What does everyone think about this SMBI versus the older BMI?
 
SBMI Chart



This SBMI chart shows your BMI value and its age-dependent significance for the health. Your value is marked in the centre of the highlighted area.

Your result

Calculation

The calculation of the body mass index is based on a height of 194 cm and a weight of 97.5 kilogrammes.

New calculation? BMI = 26

Your body mass index (BMI) is calculated as exactly 25.9 kilogrammes per square metre.

Which is pretty close to the android NIH BMI app I use to work mine out with.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.nih.nhlbi.bmicalc&hl=en
 
Interesting @Rachox

Difficult to form a strong opinion as there’s so little detail about the rationale for the SBMI. They kind of lost me with the comments after I put my current data into the calculator (I’m squarely in their ‘normal’ range): ‘A good diet supplies the body with a well-balanced, mainly plant-based mix of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins and with enough, but not too much energy. If your diet does not meet this standard, feel free to change it.’

For me the important thing is whether you feel happy and healthy at your current weight. Your BG control is amazing and for me that should be the main driver, along with insulin resistance - I’d be tempted to get that checked out as it’s the biggest risk factor for a host of metabolic disorders.
 
@Goonergal , yes I didn’t appreciate the dietary comments much, I got:
“Your current low-carb diet: low-carb diets may help to reduce body weight and improve blood sugar and lipid levels. However, in contrast to a Mediterranean diet, low-carb diets are much less sustainable. Moreover, they likely increase disease and mortality risk, despite short term improvement of some risk factors. If you want to stop dieting, do it step by step”!
Well I’ve sustained it for over two years and have no intention of stopping it, step by step or otherwise!
Yes perhaps I should get my IR checked out.
 
"Your current low-carb diet

Your weight is below average: Do you really need this diet?

Do you want to reach a target weight? Low-carb diets may help to reduce body weight and improve blood sugar an lipid levels. However, in contrast to a Mediterranean diet, low-carb diets are much less sustainable. Moreover, they likely increase disease and mortality risk, despite short term improvement of some risk factors. If you want to stop dieting, do it step by step."

Oh Dear.
 
Similar to the comments I got!
 
Rachox said:
Similar to the comments I got!
Click to expand...
Weight stable for over a year now.

NOT wasting away from starvation, feeling good and I have sustained my woe for over two and half years.

Am I allowed to say what I really think of the quoted notes?
 
Guzzler said:
Weight stable for over a year now.

NOT wasting away from starvation, feeling good and I have sustained my woe for over two and half years.

Am I allowed to say what I really think of the quoted notes?
Click to expand...

I’m just glad I’m in their green zone and considered low risk, so the quote about the diet contradicts that!
 


But oh dear.....



If only they knew about carnivore!
 
Rachox said:
I’m just glad I’m in their green zone and considered low risk, so the quote about the diet contradicts that!
Click to expand...
I don't think they have much confidence in a lower carb diet, no idea why I would get that impression, you?
 
I got the same comments as @bulkbiker in regards to nutrition. A final, rather demanding comment of, DO NOT RETURN TO THIS DIET.

I've been doing it for about 10 yrs, not sure how I can return to a diet I'm already on and I've been following for a decade. So, I guess there is an assumption that I'm not doing it? Rather bold and inaccurate of them.

I did fit into the green box and their comments were supportive of a good health outcome. But then they contradict their results with the nutrition comments, but that's what you get with questionnaire rubbish, lots of not fitting into the conventional boxes based on very limited information being asked and the resulting advice is then posted as an absolute outcome.
 
Since being overweight isn't actually unhealthy in and of itself, I personally think it's all a load of old flimflam. The human body is designed to store unused energy for later use. Why would it develop a survival mechanism that promptly kills us?

Of paramount importance is intra-organic fat and metabolic health. About which, BMI or any other fancy equation, tells you quite literally nothing of value whatsoever.

In my opinion
 
The problem or one of the problems with using BMI it does not take into consideration your build or muscle mass I am about 2 and 1/2 stone overweight my BMI states I should be with 8st 10 and 9.3 to be healthy. I have a very physical job and have always had lots of muscle so in my ( humble opinion lol ) 10 stone or even 10 and 1/2 stone would be a " healthy weight for me.
 
BMI or SBMI?

I will go with whichever gives me the best result.
 
My husband who is a personal trainer fits in that muscly category too, at the top of heathy or just into overweight on BMI, yet he has very little fat
 
I keep getting instructions to add the PDF converter thing to Chrome. Is this OK to do? I don't like extensions that change things.
 
Rachox said:
My husband who is a personal trainer fits in that muscly category too, at the top of heathy or just into overweight on BMI, yet he has very little fat
Click to expand...
Yes that's why BMI isn't the right way to look at being healthy but it appears to be the main "go to " with Health professionals" this said I am overweight and I carry a lot round my middle which isn't the best place I'd like to move it up or down and be more hourglass lol
 
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