Your body mass index, or BMI, considers your height and weight to give you an estimate of the amount of body fat that you have. If you are an athlete, your body fat is important not only for your health, but also for your athletic performance, and being at an appropriate weight for your height can be a key component of preparing for competition. The BMI is only an estimate of your body composition, and it may be more appropriate to focus on your performance and health.
BMI Background
The BMI is a calculation that can estimate your body fat more quickly than using expensive measures such as underwater weighing and dual x-ray absorptiometry. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that the BMI is relatively accurate for assessing populations, but it may not be appropriate for all individuals. You can calculate your BMI by dividing your weight, in pounds, by the square of your height, in inches, and multiplying that number by 703.
Significance for Athletes
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classify a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 as normal, and within the healthiest weight range. A BMI under 18.5 is underweight, a BMI of 25.0 to 29.9 is overweight and a BMI greater than 30 is obese. These categories may not be appropriate for you if you are a lean, muscular athlete because your BMI may be high even though your body fat is low. A more appropriate gauge of a good BMI is whether you are doing well in practice and competition.
Achieving the Best BMI
If your BMI is too high because you have too much body fat, you may need to lose weight so that you can perform better in your sport. To lose 1 lb. of fat, you need to eat 3,500 fewer calories than you expend, and you can create your deficit by eating fewer calories or by training more so that you burn more calories. You do not want to lose muscle mass or impair your performance by drastically reducing your food or overtraining, so talk to your coach and a nutritionist to help you lose weight safely.
Considerations
When evaluating your optimal BMI, consider your specific sport. Some sports, such as football, rely on strength and power, and a higher BMI may be necessary because you need a lot of muscle mass. For other sports, such as distance running, a lighter body may be more efficient, but Mayo Clinic warns that a BMI that is too low can be a sign of an eating disorder such as anorexia. If you are unsure about whether your BMI is optimal for your athletic performance and health, ask your coach and doctor for advice.
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