I'm 6'4" / 236 lbs. I'm not a lightweight, and am trying to lose weight through a running program: have lost 11lbs so far (from 247).

At my present weight and height, my BMI is well into the overweight part of the scale, and pretty close to obese. I recognize I'm overweight, but I'm in no way obese: 35" to 36" waist, a little 'spare tire' going on, but almost disappeared now.

To actually get out of the 'overweight' range, I would have to lose another 32lbs, to 204lbs. Close to an impossible goal, and I would defintely look like a scrawny ghost of my former self.

Any other tall men or women have the same experience?

6' 3" and yeah, I agree with you.

The conventional wisdom is that us tall guys have longer stretches of real estate where the fat lays lower and doesn't appear to be as concentrated and (for lack of a better term) bulbous as on shorter people. The fat is still there, and still unhealthy in the percentage of fat to lean mass. I think most will agree it's better to rely on a more accurate measurement of body fat percentages than the BMI as BMI is slanted towards straight down the middle averages.


I thought the same thing when I was in the 240's (was originally 300+) but I could definitely still identify my flab concentrations, so I decided to keep at it and try to get into the best shape I could until my body felt right. I'm at 207 right now and feeling even better than I did @ 240 and although I've started to be referred to as 'Slim' and other highly complimentary nicknames, can still see areas that I'll continue to tighten and tone ... I'm shooting at breaking 200. My 'Normal' BMI is 199 so I'm looking to acheive that, then re-evaluate.

I have the same problems with the BMI. I am just shy of 6'3" and in order to be in the middle of the healthy range I have to get down to around 175 pounds. I am currently down to 182 and have about 14% body fat and it says I am still not to the middle??? I am bordering on athletic % body fat for goodness sake!! Do they expect that people have to be athletes in order to be at the healthy average?? Doesn't make sense to me.

Incidentally ... I had a Doctor's appointment towards the end of May in which he and I were going to see how my weight loss and cholesterol were progressing ... I had lost about 35 pounds since I'd seen him previously in February and he was elated that one of his patients was actually doing what they said they intended to do (eat better, exercise more, lose weight) ... At that point he and I had a frank conversation about ultimate goals, and expectations ... he'd told me that yes, I was still in what would be considered the 'Obese Range' and to keep working at it. He then went on to tell me what the 'Normal Range' was for me (between 148-199) but said to take that with a grain of salt and that honestly if I came back for my next checkup and was able to get down to around 210 or 215 he would come into the exam room doing cartwheels.

So right now, I'm still technically in the 'Overweight' range by just a whisker, but I've made it my mission in life to crack that and get well into the 'Normal' range.

I feel your pain. I'm 6'6" and the BMI rates me as overweight. It shows 199 - 210 as my ideal weight. I'm currently 245. My physician has told me not to worry, I look fine and my blood work is good as well.

I was 190 in high school and I thought I looked skinny. I've been down to the 220 in recent years when training for long distance swimming.I think that is my excellant weight.

BMI is off for all people.

It doesn't take into account of age,bone density..etc.

According to mine, I'm "obese"...I'm not. They were in part created for insurance companies. The higher your BMI, the more you pay.

I've never had any health problems in my life.

BMI is not the best way to judge,,,

Having a fat percent done is a much more accurate measurement

And the scale is ABUSIVELY worthless!!

Agree! I am 6 ft 1.25 inches and weigh 199.5. I run 20-25 miles per week and work out extensively, so I have a lot of muscle. Yet, BMI says I'm overweight.

So, did he do cartwheels or round offs?

At 6'2.50" looking on the female BMI chart I should weigh 147. At 147 I look like a dang bean pole. At 160 I have some meat on my bones and some curves. See ya at 160!