Is the BMI chart correct for very tall people?
Asked by thelaser on May 02, 2009
in Weight Maintenance
I am an unusually tall man at 6 feet 7 inches. I've just about reached my BMI goal after losing around 20 pounds, but I still have quite a bit of fat around my middle. I am concerned that the usual BMI guidelines don't apply to someone of my height. I am also concerned that I might have been too aggressive in my weight loss and lost muscle instead of fat. Should I aim for a lower weight, and if so, what is a good rate of weight loss for someone of my height?
Answer
The Body Mass Index (BMI) formula applies regardless of height. The only exceptions are muscular athletes, pregnant women and the elderly. Based upon your current BMI of 23, you are currently in the healthy weight range; therefore, you should not lose anymore. You probably did lose muscle in your aggressiveness, and so now you must selectively gain muscle without gaining fat. To that end, strength-train two or three days a week while doing cardio-type exercise for at least 30 minutes a day. For maintenance, you require 2500-2900 calories a day, depending on your activity level, with at least 100-130 grams of protein to grow muscle. Expect to gain some weight in the process because muscle is heavier than fat.
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