Finally somebody who said it. Bmi doesn’t tell us anything about body composition. With my muscles I would easily turn out as overweight, even though I’m not.
Happened to me. Was 9 kilos over weight, so I argued and stripped down, asking them to show me where the fat was. I was very offended as I lived like an effin monk, knew exactly what was going in and out of me and they classed me as fat!
You’re right, and I am the mesomorph body type, with broad shoulders. I could never become small even if I wanted to. Plus I’m taller than the average. But that’s ok. I’m happy with my size now 😊
I turned out as overweight, even though I am! As an older guy, I finally have come to terms that I have to make some changes in my dietary choices. Heart concerns and type 2. Carbs, cholesterol, sugar and salt are no longer my 4 basic food groups. Fart. But so far I'm doing good, dropping lbs, and feeling better.
I’m in 🇬🇧, I gave up alcohol and started eating meat only on January 1, the weight is falling off me, my asthma has got to a point that I don’t need inhalers, my basal metabolic pulse at night can drop to 49 bpm! My skin on the back of my hands has recoil again, I don’t snore anymore. Ken thanks for telling the world about the truth of what crap we are generally eating. 👍
2 years ago I was over 770+ lbs (ERR on scales). I've lost 495 lbs and I'm currently 275 lbs. I was housebound, type 2 diabetic, and suffered with hypothyroidism, lymphedema, lipedema, mobility & balance issues, depression, anxiety, severe periodontial disease, migraines, neuropathy in my feet, and failing eyesight. I use one of those smart scales (now that I can weigh myself!) that gives me all the stats - BMI, bone density, body water, etc. As mentioned, I have lymphedema & lipedema - I can easily drop 4-8 lbs overnight in fluid. I also have a lot of lipedema fat which can be improved with diet but not lost. So how does BMI take those factors out of the equation (it doesn't). I lost my weight following a strict Carnivore diet. Measuring is still an issue for me as I have so much loose skin. After meeting with a surgeon about skin removal surgery he said he could conservatively remove around 45 lbs of skin. So if he uses that weight on my record then I would be under the BMI required to attend a normal hospital, as there are restrictions for people over a certain BMI (me with loose skin on!). I've come so far, but still so far away. Just another hurdle I intend to jump over!! :)
Do you ever wonder what the point of weight loss would be if it was stripped away bone mineral density and muscle mass? My body comp scale says I have 5% body fat. But BMI says yeah losing weight is totally safe.
At one time I was on the Dr's obesity chart. 6'3" and 250 lbs. Lifted weights daily, as I do now. closer to when I was varsity rugby. I don't pay attention to charts or some Dr.'s, thanks for what you do Dr. Berry.
I'm 6'3" and the at the best shape I was ever in, I weighed 215 pounds, which would still put me at obese, or at least overweight on the BMI chart. I was lifting weights every day, running five miles every day, getting ready to go to a training course by the US Army Rangers for government employees where I worked.
At my strongest I was 6'8" and 275 pounds. Basically the same body composition as someone like LeBron. No one would have said I was overweight. I was 190 and a hard gainer in HS. I was in constant pain because I couldn't get enough muscle to support my joints. 240-250 has felt the best but is considered overweight. To get into the "normal range" I have to be an emaciated skeleton. The farther away from the average height you are the more inaccurate the BMI becomes. The BMI was not and is not a measure of health.
I couldn’t agree with you more Dr. Berry. I’m 55 years old, 5 foot nine and weigh 215 pounds. However, I’ve been bodybuilding for six years and carnivore for two years. I have amassed significant muscle. I measure my body fat with a body fat caliper and I am sub 12% body fat. According to the BMI, I am morbidly obese, according to my pictures and the body fat caliper I am super fit. By the way, I met you in San Antonio about a year ago at the barbecue get together where we took a pic together.
I worked with a gal years ago who was upset. Her husband's doctor told him he was "obese" because of his BMI. The fact that this man was very lean, ate "healthy foods", worked out every day and was extremely muscular (grossly muscular in mho) didn't change that. He was baffled at how his doc came to the conclusion he was obese. He was avg height. I've come to the conclusion his doctor was delusional.
or just misinformed. Most medical doctors get about an hour of nutritional education during their entire schooling. That's why they are called "medical" doctors! They study anatomy, diseases, and what medicines to use to treat the symptoms of disease.
7 weeks into my carnivore diet and I’ve lost 30 pounds! My waist to height ratio for the first time is below 0.50 at 0.49. It feels great being under the 200 pound mark now. Thanks for this info on waist to height ratio Doc as the BMI is really the “Bullshit Meter Index” ! Thanks for all you do Dr Berry. Good luck everyone! Best of health!
Agree 100%!!! I’m 6’1 and 208 lb former pro athlete female. And this stupid bmi show that I’m overweight 🙄 My bone structure is more like male… so, I just ignore this dumb way of judgment. I’m happy with my jeans size 32X34 being 61 yo. 😉
Wow. So happy this video popped up for me. I've been carnivore for a few months. Love this way of life! But not much success on the scale. At my recent physical my doctor said I am perfectly healthy. 65 year old woman. NO MEDS! Perfect blood pressure. Endless energy. Do physical work like a 30 year old all day. BUT....that damn scale. I spend a lot of time wondering if I need to "try something different" to get that scale down. For now Dr Berry, I'm going to stay off the scale and hold onto my perfect waist to height ratio of .5! Thank you. I feel like I can let all that garbage go and just continue to live my best life. You are a national gem! ❤️
@zxyatiywariii8 I read about that as a young person back in the 1950's when looks/weight meant SOOOO much to a young girl....( I'm 84 now, so that was a very long time ago).
0.57 compared to my BMI of 26.6. BMI puts me into the overweight category. My husband is a competitive power lifter. His waist to height ratio was .67 and his BMI is 32.5. According to BMI he is obese. He is solid muscle, a lifelong jock. Has never been a drinker, has never tried drugs. We ignore BMI. Edit: When I used the calculator in your link I went down to .53. I feel thinner now.
Thank you, Dr. Berry. Finally, someone speaking truth about the body from the inside out. I’ve also started seeing a functional medicine/holistic dentist who approaches the mouth the same way.❤
@@cathiemcginnis3997 No, in Colorado, but he is amazing. I can’t believe how unhealthy going to a traditional dentist is. This dentist even made sure to use carbocaine, rather than Lidocaine because I didn’t want hydrogel or nanoparticles injected in me. So great if you can find one!
@@cathiemcginnis3997No, he is in Colorado. He has truly been amazing for me and if you can find one, I would highly recommend it. He even tested my saliva for different bacteria to see what may be coming from my gut. Now we’re treating the gut & mouth.
Omgosh!! Thank you!! The BMI makes me so frustrated when people use it for me. I'm a woman, and only 5'9, but am actually built with big, thick bones. Yes! I'm actually big boned! My MINIMUM weight is 185lbs, not 120. I'd have to start chopping limbs off to get that small. My Dr is great because she said they added a button for those who are very muscular on their BMI chart and she uses that for me. Now, I totally admit that I have weight to loose, especially after 6 pregnancies, but it isn't over 100lbs, more like 30-40. But trying to use any BMI calculation is a waste of time for people like me.
This is great information, doctor. Thanks for this short video which most people can view in the amount of time given. I'm glad now I can drop the BMI crapola.
I am 6'2" and weight 208 and waist 37, and I am 74 years old.. My BMI says that I am overweight and need to get to 186 lbs to be in the NORMAL range. If I were to lose 22 lbs...I would be skin and bones! As is I am starting to get 'old man legs' and losing additional weight would make me look ridiculous. I always wondered about the BMI scale. Thanks Dr. for your fine efforts to educate us folk! HAPPY NEW YEAR! (and now for a bowl of jamoca almond fudge!)
same here, they used to measure my neck , chest and waste (I think) in the army to "pass" me...think they told me the chart said 190 or something...always 20 lbs too much
I agree BMI is bs - it always has been, so are other arbitrary "standards". Trying to use "standard" body measurements works only for those with the more usual body type. I'm a good example of that: When I was in the military (Canadian) the standard for physical capabilities was run a mile and a half in under twelve minutes. I comfortably ran a mile and a half in just under ten minutes, had just finished proving it a week after having done a five-mile run in fifty-two minutes wearing combat gear (boots, rations, rig, rifle, helmet, etc.), had a ten minute smoke break and then did a thousand yard run-down on a rifle range to requalify on my weapon with no issues. Yet, I was put on remedial PT. Regardless of your physical capabilities your fitness level was judged by a range of the ratio of your height and your weight. Because I'm 5'4" and was 185lbs. at the time (still short, still in decent-ish shape and still built like a tank, btw) I fell outside the "acceptable" range. So as far as I'm concerned any arbitrary ratio, BMI, height/weight, waist/height, etc is not worth pursuing. Get fit. You'll know it when you feel it.
Just measured. I am .50. Interesting. Glad thats good. Got a keto/glucose monitor. 2.3 ketones and 87 glucose. I need to lose still 30 lbs off the bod. I lose weight like a bathtub (top down) and the scale has been stuck for the past month even with Keto/carnivore/IF 18/6 and fasting 24-36 hrs weekly for past 10 weeks. I will continue this journey cause I feel amazing now. My mind feels incredible the past 3 days!
You’re doing great! Don’t rush the process! I was stuck for 120 days while my body was still busy. The weight didn’t move during that time, but my waist continued to shrink. Now that I’m about 10 lbs short of my goal, the weight is super slow to come off. I’m lucky to get 1 pound loss, but my waist continues to shrink slowly. The dangerous fat is leaving! Yea! Hang in there!!
@@user-ym5io2ul1o Nah...don't cut down on the fats, bro. Cut down on everything else except fatty meat, water and some kind of salt. The weight will go FAST if you do this. You have to be disciplined to not stray from that so you can achieve ketosis. That's what makes the weight go down. But then again...if you feel great, who cares about the weight?
Listen I have been saying this! I have had 2 kids and as expected my stomach got stretched out. I want to get a tummy tuck but alot of doctors won’t work on me because of my BMI. I am a woman’s who is 5’11 and I workout, I’m very strong and yes I am wide and tall and have a very large skeleton. I am bigger than the average man here in the USA, literally. However I carry my weight described as an hour glass figure. I never had issues with weight in my stomach just lots of excess skin I call my mom Roll. These doctors refuse working on me because on my BMI but will work on much shorter women with a much smaller skeleton, and their stomachs are way larger than mine. They actually want my BMI to be the same as a woman who is 5’4-5’5. I did find a Dr. Who works on higher BMI’s but I completely feel this frustration!
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 🏥 *BMI measurement limitations* - BMI is not suitable for individual assessment. - Factors like height, muscle mass, and build can lead to inaccurate BMI readings. - BMI is more appropriate for population-level analysis. 01:09 📏 *Waist to Height Ratio as a better measure* - Waist to Height Ratio (WHtR) is a simple and effective measure of metabolic health. - WHtR of around 0.5 indicates good metabolic health. - Research on WHtR focuses on values significantly above 0.5, with limited data for values below. 02:19 📊 *Understanding and assessing WHtR* - WHtR values significantly above 0.5 indicate metabolic health risks. - Limited research exists for WHtR values significantly below 0.5. - Tools like WHtR calculators can help individuals assess their metabolic health status. Made with HARPA AI
I am at a weight stall since last 6 months. Tape measure and scale alike… I embarked on a fast journey since last week hoping to break this stall. Am at day 7 and my goal is 21 days of no food 💪. I feel good so far, drinking electrolytes and let’s see if it does the job. 😂 am still at the stall only 3 lbs down 🫣. I won’t give in that easy 😂. Thank you doctor Berry you are one of the few doctors who changed my health to the better. 🙏🏻 God bless you man
My delimma is that my waist to height ratio has never been under .53. I come from a line of short people who are much heavier than appearances, but also with more weight in the middle even when in the normal range on health charts. I hope this ratio improves as my metabolic health continues to improve. I have come a long way.
Ok, so according to this I’m far worse off using this method than the bmi. I’ve lost almost 100 pounds, wearing the smallest size clothing I’ve ever worn (size medium) and according to the waist to height I’m highly obese still. Everyone is shocked when I tell them I still want to lose a little more weight because I look thin to them. How am I morbidly obese still? It says I need to lose 8 inches off my waist yet. Are you kidding me? I’m already in a medium pants. What am I going to wear if I lose 8 inches more? There will be nothing left!
I get the same reaction, but waist reduction doesn’t necessarily mean weight loss. The visceral fat around the waist is the unhealthy fat and it’ll go even without weight loss. I’m living it. I just keep going and my body keeps healing and redistributing itself. I’ve lost about the same amount of weight as you have and my weight is really stable, but waist continues to shrink. Yea! Healthy muscle mass is my goal now!!
My mom is 80 years old, 5’7”, skin and bones at less than 115 pounds, and works hard to keep from losing weight - and it says she is VERY overweight by this measurement. I think this a pure garbage measurement. Bunch of BS.
I had the same reaction. I think the women's side needs more work, but this type of measuring will never be accurate because humans come in so many different shapes and sizes. Especially if he thinks waist means the largest part of your belly. Gotta say I'm pretty disappointed in Dr. Berry this time. If you want an accurate idea of how much fat you have, I think your best bet is a body scan.
Exactly i need a double hip replacement and these orthopedics are so hung up on BMI and im in terrible pain and can hardly walk and you cant tell them any different about BMI ive always kniwn the origin/history of the BMI to no avail im glad to hear a doctor finally realize this.
@gloriarangott8803 yes that's exactly what's holding up my surgery they are saying I weigh too much so they won't do the surgery a whole bunch if what ifs well all surgeries involve risk at different levels so what we stop surgeries based on things that might happen look up the history of the BMI and why it was created and by whom
Hi, I was just doing some research because my mom has 2 bad hips and needs surgery, she is waiting in a long line, while waiting she needs a walker and is in so much pain. It is ridiculous. So I researched and came across this guy just yesterday and shared it with my mom , i do not know if she is going to try or not but she is really tired of the pain etc. you tube video - research......Growing my hip back - restored full function without surgery.....by shapefixer you tube account.
I'm convinced it's a way to put paying patients ahead of undercutting insureds. They want real $$$, not the reduced pay insurance gives. Blame the illegals in large part. That great sucking sound is your health-care vanishing.
I am also trying to wean myself off taking my blood glucose. I have type 2 diabetes and my blood glucose reflects things other than this moment. I have eaten carnivore for 11 days and I know my recovery from diabetes will take time and every time I checked my b.g I would thrill (not in a good way) with fright, anxiety and stress. I know I am eating well, my body will heal, my adrenals and insulin sensitivity will recover. Eating meat(and lots of animal fat) will support my body healing, thank you
Dr. Berry, I am seventy years old, intermittent fast for 18 hours a day after eating one meal, and my ratio is .46. Just got back from a five mile hike bye the way. Thank you Dr. Berry, that was powerful information that I really needed to hear, because the BMI says I am fat. The BMI says I am overweight, but my Resting Heart Rate is 49, and my Blood Pressure is 110/78. Take Care Dr. Berry.
Doctor Kenny. You rock. Over the last 7 years, I went on a journey to find what really works for me to get healthy. I am now 66. 7 years ago at 6'1" I weighed over 325. I was dying. I learned that sugar and refined carbs were killing me. After getting off those, I lost 80 pounds, but finding you and the carnivore diet I am soon going to cross the 200 pound mark. The height waist ration is very helpful. I am at .583. I have a way to go yet but now have real goals. God bless you
I had a Navy physical once. They used a neck measurement ratio. I failed the standard. The doc literally said I could just do neck muscle training exercises to increase the size of my neck to pass the standard.
The BMI, body mass index, was something I was taught in engineering school (prior to university) as a simple example of square calucations. It has, as stated, such obvious flaws, that a medical doctor should realize the first time he is encountered with it. Even the working test measuring oxygen uptake, where grams of oxygen per kilogram of body weight was mathematically slanted to a short (light) person seeming in better shape than a tall (heavy) person. A lot of the "mathematics" in medicin, is appaling to any engineer, and I'm at the lower end. I'm surprized medical scientists get any calculations correct in medical science, where the statistiscal math required to analyse complex data, is not trivial. since they seem oblivious to the unintended implications of BMI=mass/L^2. The overuse of rtPCR last three years, tells me 95% of doctors doesn't have a mathematical clue.
I can say that I am fit but not a super athlete like my BMI shows! I exercise but not obsessively but according to the BMI I am always exercising! I am so relieved that this waist to height ratio is being used now because it seems to make sense. My ratio is below the 0.5 ratio that is the cut off.
Glad to see you posted this. When working for J&J, the fitness center had one of these electronic devices that one input with height and age, then you hold it at arms length and it gives the percentage of body fat. I later read that there is no research to back up this measurement method. The funny thing is that all the muscular guys would use this religiously. They were obsessed with the least bit of change in their BMI.
Actually, the way waist is measured in a clinical setting is to measure the waist circumference at the midpoint between the lowest part of your rib and the upper part of the hip bone. This is where dieticians measure the waist circumference. This is also where waist circumference is measured in clinical trials.
I went from 300 pounds down to 191 pounds and my doctor insists on adding to my record "morbidly obese" according to my BMI every visit. I have a lot of loose skin around my abdomen, it's hard to measure in inches accurately.
Very interesting post and timely. Was looking at BMI chart earlier. I’ve been on carnivore for 18 days and have lost 18 lbs. I have not used insulin in those 18 days. Amazing start.
I've been saying this for over a decade now. Waist-to-height ratio is a far better metric of metabolic health. Plus, both measurements are units of length, so it works whether you're using the metric system, the English system, or whatever.
W/H: 0.61, down from 0.71 (6 month carnivore, with way too many cheat days.) Also, lost 45 lbs, and A1C down from 6.8 to 5.9. Yeap, still gotta way to go.
4 weeks ketovore going carnivore and feeling great. Down 20 lbs and less inflammation. Already went of my blood pressure meds and don't feel my blood pressure like I use to if I missed my meds.
I told my former doctor that BMI was unrealistic, that it doesn't take into consideration variations in skeletal weight...a mature males skeleton is heavier than the average m nature females skeletal frame. Some groups of ppl have heavier frames than other groups, yet the BMI chart is universal...and ridiculous. I also told him that being weighed and having waist/hip measurements taken three different times in three different cubbies by three different people, then sitting in an empty room forever, then have an NP ( nurse practitioner) come in with a clipboard and go over all the BS I just went through, was excessively redundant! At the last, finally, THE doctor walked into the room ...hi how have you been...blah blah blah... In short I made up my mind that the nonsense was over!!! When covid came, I canceled my appointment, and have just never gone back. Sheesh!!!! What a rip-off that time span was...just like the BMI chart
I do needed to hear this! I’ve been checking every few weeks lol. Thank you Dr. Berry you’re the best!! When I tell people I’m still considered obese or overweight and they’re like “where? That can’t be true”! I still can’t figure out my height 🤣. I was always 5’8”. Now I feel like I shrink 🤷🏼♀️.
get you height measured at Dr office (when nurse weighs you). Of course, insist on having shoes OFF and stand up straight, ears back and up. If you are getting shorter, perhaps you need to do some stretching daily.
Let's see, BMI is printed out every Doc visit, but I rarely have paid attention because I know of too many instances where it doesn't really apply as a health marker. The same can be said for most bloodwork as the association are not strong especially for cardiac concerns. Had chest pain, went to a cardiologist who gave me an echo, EKG (it was a bit off) and a scan (which said I was OK. Six weeks later, I had my heart attack, so not particularly impressed with health measurements.
Agree. Thank you for that. Critics argue that BMI has limitations as it solely relies on weight and height, neglecting factors like muscle mass and distribution. It may not provide an accurate representation of an individual's overall health or body composition.
What's your Waist:Height Ratio? Tell me in the comments. If it is more than .53 then start doing this to fix it: th-cam.com/video/iTYYMYiMG1U/w-d-xo.html
Re: @1:35 @KenDBerryMD, please define waist location for both men & women. “the biggest part of your abdomen”. To me, a woman’s waist is at the thinnest part of her middle, correct? Thank you! Hubby 0.58, Me 0.34 or 0.44 depending on where my “waist” is measured.
I am even a bit skeptical about height to waist ratios. It assumes everybody, all races across the globe, has the exact same body proportions. Some are built long and slender, others short and stockier. This is still just a general guideline
Hey Dr. Berry Can you do or do you have a video on what it is like to be sick while on the carnivore diet? Differences in feeling? Meds? Best ways to get better? Thanks. Davis
Thanks for this. I will check. I am about 5'8" to 5'9" and 4 years ago, I got down into the high 140s which is good for a woman. Then I started training martial arts, and here I am now weighing much more after aggressive training and strength work - low 170s/high 160s. I am still in the same clothing though and comfortably except around my thighs/hips. I've just put on a lot of muscle, especially through the arms and across the shoulders. I will check this out. I've no doubt not all the weight is muscle, but I definitely didn't put on that much fat given that I've weighed a little over 200 with fat in the past and it all sat on me much, much differently.
I cannot stress enough how I wish we could ban this ridiculous umbrella measurement failure BY LAW. As a personal trainer, I was sick to death of people crying about their doctor using BMI to make them think they are monstrously fat. As a former weightlifter/ bodybuilder, I fired my GP when she used BMI to tell me that I am MORBIDLY OBESE!!!
Waist height ratio is not quite as dumb as bmi. But it’s close! Here’s why, if I’m 3 inches wider in the shoulders and hips, and two inches deeper thru the chest rib cage, against someone who is the same height, then it goes without saying I’m going to have a bigger circumference of the stomach. Btw love your vids, just not this one. 😂
This has been a problem my entire life. In the army and with private doctors, always telling me I am overweight. I've always just had a bit more muscle than most. 6'3" and about 220. I'm maybe 10 lbs from a 6 pack. The "charts" say I should be about 190.
It's not that somone will be super obese based on BMI and healthy according to WTH ratio. We can argue that BMI and WTH ratio are wrong/different better or worse but I assume they are highly connected, right? Usually someone with high BMI will also have high waist-to-height ratio anyway. Also someone with bad WTH ratio will have simply high BMI. I assume exception works basically for people with higher than average % of muscle body mass (and BMI is usless for professional bodybuilders)
Thank you for saying that out loud! I always thought BMI was a scam, intended to complicate a very simple concept. We are the same height most of our lives. We can remember what the “healthy weight range” is and can easily see if we’re in that range or not when we step on the scales. BMI was ridiculous, even if you believed in the weight to height ranges they were based on.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 all this. Both pregnancies was red flagged for being obese! 🤦🏻♀️ And each time they came into my first visit and was like you’re not obese. And I said yep that’s the problem with BMI to dictate if you’re obese….. they kept it in my file for both the entire time. 😭🤦🏻♀️
Thank you for this! I’m a very fit female, high muscle mass & lean. I’m not a body builder, I just stay fit & I’m naturally lean & muscular. I have the build of a dancer or gymnast & I’m always being told by doctors I need to “lose 10-15lbs because your BMI category is overweight”. I’m a size 4!!! My cycle will stop if I lose that much weight! So if I follow the doctors advice, I’ll cause a hormone imbalance, but my BMI will be acceptable to them 🤦🏼♀️
I’m so fed up with primary care physicians. They never measured my hight. Just wrote a number down. Six years ago I was 5’11” a few months ago they put me at 5’7”. I know people shrink as they age. But 4” come on! I was measured 6 months ago and was 5’10”. Sorry for saying this. But I think the majority of doctors out there are manipulated by big farma. Just my opinion. Thanks for the video Dr. Berry.
You are absolutely correct. They are just overpaid pill pushers. I had a doctor years ago who would enter the exam room with a prescription pad in her hand and ask "what can I get for you today?"
@@thelmahenriques6454 , I think I was born in the wrong era. Doctors were better doctors when they had to barter for their services. Just my opinion. Medicine is corrupt! Just another opinion. Some medicine is good but some are bad. I don’t want to be their Ginny pig!
From what I've read you're supposed to measure at the position of your navel with the tape horizontal at that height. That is approximately the narrowest point of your torso but well above the belt line for most folks.
Dr Berry, I lost a ton of weight last year on the carnivore diet and then on a high meat based keto. But then I fattened myself up like the guy from super size me over the last 2.5 months. I was lifting weights at the gym 4 times a week and walking 15k steps a day but couldn’t stop the weight gain from just about one thousand calories of junk a day. Now I’m running a strict carnivore diet again and but measuring my changes over the next 40 days. I just did my baseline blood work, are you interested in having a chat?
I recently had a baby and since baby was breech, was told I would need a c-section. The OB wrote in my chart that my complications of pregnancy were malpresentation of fetus and OBESITY due to high bmi. I was a normal weight beginning the pregnancy and I was 9 months pregnant when the chart was written. My bmi was high because I was 9 months pregnant. I was not obese. I'm assuming this was something necessary for coding and billing purposes. Ridiculous.
Also, the notion that waist under 35" is necessary for women. But at what height? Also, I have loose skin from being 90 lbs heavier and having a near 10 lb baby at 5'9". I feel like I just need a Dexa scan. 😜
I am 5'6 and acc to BMI should weigh between 120 and 150.however my lean body mass was 130 and I looked scrawny and malnourished at 156. Throw the bmi chart out,its nonsense.
Biggest part is misleading. That would be measuring across my hips to catch the little tummy pooch, which is actually my intestinal distention from a twisted colon. So I would think you mean slightly above the umbilicus, which is my waist, but it is the smallest, not biggest, if you are hourglass shaped.
Your official waist is 2 fingers above you hip bone. Measure 3 times while breathing normally and take the average. I was part of a big DNA health study and that is how the measurements were taken.
As a 45 year RD, I never understood the obsession of BMI. We never used this until nurses in federal agencies such as CMS determined that this was useful. As a nursing home administrator, surveyors used BMI to evaluate if RDs were providing "nutritional" guidance - to 80 and 90 year olds. Absolutely nuts.
I'm 4'10" and even at my skinniest never had much of a waist. From the bottom of my ribcage to the top of my pelvis is only a few inches. I can look like a stick, lol, but will never have a tiny curved waist.
I am 4'9" and my height isn't even on the doctors charts! I sat down and calculated my height by what THEIR CHARTS think I should be. According to them I should weight 87 lbs. Considering the fact that I have an hourglass figure, my waist is small but my hips are wide with a large bum. If I go by my waist & height to measure myself I look great, but if I go by my weight & height I'm considered obese. I think we are all different and what might be a good measuring stick for some will not work for others. When I was in high school I was too thin at 95 pounds. When I married I was 120. I felt my most comfortable at 130. Therefore my goal in my mid-60s is 130. Screw the charts! I am light-years more healthy than my parents were at my age (62) and can walk for miles and not be winded. Measuring one person by other people's body standards just doesn't give you a measurement of health. Period!
I am 4'11" and I weigh 100 lbs. I have no waistline because there is about 1/2 inch between my bottom rib and my pelvis. I am straight up and down like a 12 year old boy!
Suppose to measure at the belly button, so the tiny waist means nothing anyhow. . If I had measured at my real waist I would be in the slim instead of healthy range. 3 inch difference. The gap was bigger before having children. I use to half to sew in the waistline on pants. Wide hips just like mom. Use to do hip rolls trying to make them smaller. Big butts were not in back then. The straight up and down Twiggy look was in. You would have been great.
I laughed and laughed at this story Doc Berry . Was in the military, was on the overweight program for a very long time, due to muscularity and a very short body with long legs...... I was usually working out extra and my colonel knew that. Once, I was on a special duty detail so, I didn't do any Army calisthenics so I swam a mile 2 x /day rather than once. met the colonel, he asked about my weight, I was down to 178 at 70.5" and he stated he thought I looked unhealthy and asked about my next weigh in date. He showed up, didn't say much, then when I was done said, I don't believe that SGT "F"..... should be on this program. Took my data to a medical pal of his and personally had me removed after briefing that doc on what I was doing etc etc..... so I was done but, due to body shape I likely would never have made it out of that program w/out his intervention.....and seems that the ratio you present would have prevented a ton of that happening to me.....LMBO - great vid Doc like almost all the rest...
Yep 5'8" size 10 and 169Lbs . The nurse couldn't believe and asked..where is that weight coming from.. Well..I am a really big boned girl. Typically northern European.. big frame like my dad. So BMI puts me at OBESE level . LOL😂
The best guide in my unscientific and practical way of measuring waist measurements is my trouser size which is 34 regular with 30 inside leg. The problem measuring your waist with a tape measure is that it is difficult to get an accurate measure because it is easy to get the tape skewed around your waist perhaps even over your hips. I have found the best way using tape measure is to breathe in then put the tape around your waist and then breathe out.
I have decreased my trouser waist size from 40 regular 30 inside leg to 34 regular inside leg, when I had to wear the larger size then even though I wore a belt my trousers would fall down to my ankles if I did not keep pulling them. My height is 5ft 10ins but waist to hip ratio could be a good guide to.
Neither BMI or waist/height is worth a damn as a metric. Both are fast and easy, but not indicative. People have different skeletal dimensions. Body fat percentage measured by water displacement is the best bang for the buck. Want a really good number? Try a whole body scan for $300. Another beef if have is the 5' nurse has a difficult time measuring my 6' height. Then I tell her my naked weight, which she ignores and insists that she weigh me with my clothes on and doesn't subtract the 5 pounds of clothes. She doesn't even tell me. I had to go to my electronic file to find these errors.
I don't fret what the med corp says. Mine measured similarly (I'd argue deliberately) to create inflated stats of fat folks. I feel ______ is my indication. Not based on what their generic umbrella stats indicate.
This is such an easy number to use, its sad that all the sites that have this information, make it difficult to download (like in sign up and give us your email). Good information is always suspicious when they want your contact information.
BMI is 💩. My chest measurement is bigger than than my waist, third year of my paleo low carb journey. That's good enough for me, right now. Lean muscle mass with some body fat, not a real health outcome predictor. At 68 I'm not chasing my 20 year old self, 5 foot 11 and 175 lbs. Now 210 lbs down from 235 lbs. GOOD ENOUGH with VA blood work. 💪🙏
Please, dr Berry, you have helpt me to get my glucose down, and I already thanked you for that! But I have a question: if I drink about one US pint pure natural mineral water 04:00 in the morning, do I still have an "empty stomach" two hours later? If not, then when? I need the water, and I need to drink the olive oil as well! (I am 79 years old) Thank you, and I will pray for you!
I’m 62. In high school I was 5 9 and weighed 185 with a 32” waste. Muscle, fullback build. Today I weight 195 and they claim im obese. When I was on the liver transplant list the “nutritionist” wanted me to get down to 165 for the potential surgery. THAT almost killed me.
Amen! I would run over 40 miles a week ( when I shouldn’t have) just to reach the arbitrary bmi figure. I now have a lot of arthritis ( probably from all the miles ran) If I had only known.
The waist is the midline between the bottom of your rib cage and top of thr pevic bone. And measure first thing in the morning where you're less bloating after digesting the food the day before.
I think some women can have very pinched waists, though, if they're an hourglass shape. My ratio works out to 0.37 because I'm tall, but I've got some child birthin hips and a distinct Buddha belly going on, and I carry a lot of weight on my chest, so heaven knows what my body fat/visceral fat composition actually is. I don't want to know. I have friends who are super athletic, no visible fat on them, defined abs, but don't have very defined waists, and they'd probably be nearer the 0.5 mark or over because they're short. So, kinda the same issues as with BMI.
I was 6’4” 225lbs when I was in the Marines. I ran a 16 min 3 mile PFT and was lean. The government BMI chart had me overweight and I was on a weight control program for the entire 5 years I was enlisted.
Finally somebody who said it. Bmi doesn’t tell us anything about body composition.
With my muscles I would easily turn out as overweight, even though I’m not.
Happened to me. Was 9 kilos over weight, so I argued and stripped down, asking them to show me where the fat was. I was very offended as I lived like an effin monk, knew exactly what was going in and out of me and they classed me as fat!
Saw that many times in the Navy.
You’re right, and I am the mesomorph body type, with broad shoulders.
I could never become small even if I wanted to. Plus I’m taller than the average. But that’s ok. I’m happy with my size now 😊
I guess that doctor saw himself/herself blind in «magic numbers». How ignorant.
I turned out as overweight, even though I am!
As an older guy, I finally have come to terms that I have to make some changes in my dietary choices. Heart concerns and type 2.
Carbs, cholesterol, sugar and salt are no longer my 4 basic food groups.
Fart.
But so far I'm doing good, dropping lbs, and feeling better.
I’m in 🇬🇧, I gave up alcohol and started eating meat only on January 1, the weight is falling off me, my asthma has got to a point that I don’t need inhalers, my basal metabolic pulse at night can drop to 49 bpm! My skin on the back of my hands has recoil again, I don’t snore anymore. Ken thanks for telling the world about the truth of what crap we are generally eating. 👍
2 years ago I was over 770+ lbs (ERR on scales). I've lost 495 lbs and I'm currently 275 lbs. I was housebound, type 2 diabetic, and suffered with hypothyroidism, lymphedema, lipedema, mobility & balance issues, depression, anxiety, severe periodontial disease, migraines, neuropathy in my feet, and failing eyesight.
I use one of those smart scales (now that I can weigh myself!) that gives me all the stats - BMI, bone density, body water, etc. As mentioned, I have lymphedema & lipedema - I can easily drop 4-8 lbs overnight in fluid. I also have a lot of lipedema fat which can be improved with diet but not lost. So how does BMI take those factors out of the equation (it doesn't).
I lost my weight following a strict Carnivore diet. Measuring is still an issue for me as I have so much loose skin. After meeting with a surgeon about skin removal surgery he said he could conservatively remove around 45 lbs of skin. So if he uses that weight on my record then I would be under the BMI required to attend a normal hospital, as there are restrictions for people over a certain BMI (me with loose skin on!). I've come so far, but still so far away. Just another hurdle I intend to jump over!! :)
That’s awesome! Keep up, keep go!
Congratulations 🎉
You can do it !!!
dude how did u do that
Yup! I was a Weight Watcher coach years ago -20yrs, and I can't believe I lived like that, counting and relying on a BMI - thank goodness I found you!
Do you ever wonder what the point of weight loss would be if it was stripped away bone mineral density and muscle mass? My body comp scale says I have 5% body fat. But BMI says yeah losing weight is totally safe.
At one time I was on the Dr's obesity chart. 6'3" and 250 lbs. Lifted weights daily, as I do now. closer to when I was varsity rugby. I don't pay attention to charts or some Dr.'s, thanks for what you do Dr. Berry.
Same here.
I'm 6'3" and the at the best shape I was ever in, I weighed 215 pounds, which would still put me at obese, or at least overweight on the BMI chart. I was lifting weights every day, running five miles every day, getting ready to go to a training course by the US Army Rangers for government employees where I worked.
I was told muscle doesnt matter, your BMI tells the truth. In a pigs eye!
At my strongest I was 6'8" and 275 pounds. Basically the same body composition as someone like LeBron. No one would have said I was overweight. I was 190 and a hard gainer in HS. I was in constant pain because I couldn't get enough muscle to support my joints. 240-250 has felt the best but is considered overweight. To get into the "normal range" I have to be an emaciated skeleton. The farther away from the average height you are the more inaccurate the BMI becomes. The BMI was not and is not a measure of health.
I couldn’t agree with you more Dr. Berry. I’m 55 years old, 5 foot nine and weigh 215 pounds. However, I’ve been bodybuilding for six years and carnivore for two years. I have amassed significant muscle. I measure my body fat with a body fat caliper and I am sub 12% body fat. According to the BMI, I am morbidly obese, according to my pictures and the body fat caliper I am super fit. By the way, I met you in San Antonio about a year ago at the barbecue get together where we took a pic together.
I worked with a gal years ago who was upset. Her husband's doctor told him he was "obese" because of his BMI. The fact that this man was very lean, ate "healthy foods", worked out every day and was extremely muscular (grossly muscular in mho) didn't change that. He was baffled at how his doc came to the conclusion he was obese. He was avg height. I've come to the conclusion his doctor was delusional.
As most are!!!
or just misinformed. Most medical doctors get about an hour of nutritional education during their entire schooling. That's why they are called "medical" doctors! They study anatomy, diseases, and what medicines to use to treat the symptoms of disease.
7 weeks into my carnivore diet and I’ve lost 30 pounds! My waist to height ratio for the first time is below 0.50 at 0.49. It feels great being under the 200 pound mark now. Thanks for this info on waist to height ratio Doc as the BMI is really the “Bullshit Meter Index” ! Thanks for all you do Dr Berry. Good luck everyone! Best of health!
Agree 100%!!! I’m 6’1 and 208 lb former pro athlete female. And this stupid bmi show that I’m overweight 🙄 My bone structure is more like male… so, I just ignore this dumb way of judgment. I’m happy with my jeans size 32X34 being 61 yo. 😉
Wow, that's great, Big Gal!
Haha.. thanks! If I’d try to follow female weight to hight ratio, I’d have to be dead to reach it.
I am going for 32-33 have 5 inches to go.
Wonder Woman is jealous of that.
In the meantime your insurance company or medical aid charges you MORE.
Wow. So happy this video popped up for me. I've been carnivore for a few months. Love this way of life! But not much success on the scale. At my recent physical my doctor said I am perfectly healthy. 65 year old woman. NO MEDS! Perfect blood pressure. Endless energy. Do physical work like a 30 year old all day. BUT....that damn scale. I spend a lot of time wondering if I need to "try something different" to get that scale down. For now Dr Berry, I'm going to stay off the scale and hold onto my perfect waist to height ratio of .5! Thank you. I feel like I can let all that garbage go and just continue to live my best life. You are a national gem! ❤️
I remember my father, of blessed memory, telling me back in the 80’s that my waist shouldn’t be larger than my inseam.
Cool! Wise father. I've never heard about this method before.
@zxyatiywariii8
I read about that as a young person back in the 1950's when looks/weight meant SOOOO much to a young girl....( I'm 84 now, so that was a very long time ago).
That's what we went by before the BMI nonsense
I trust Dr. Berry more and more, because he obviously does his research and makes honest common sense of it.
well crap.
I need to be 7 feet 6 inches tall.
You can dream 😊❤
🤣 You're not overweight, you're just under tall.
I know, right?! 😂 The ridiculous body proportions you'd get, if you went by the BMI!
😂That was Funny.
😂
0.57 compared to my BMI of 26.6. BMI puts me into the overweight category. My husband is a competitive power lifter. His waist to height ratio was .67 and his BMI is 32.5. According to BMI he is obese. He is solid muscle, a lifelong jock. Has never been a drinker, has never tried drugs. We ignore BMI. Edit: When I used the calculator in your link I went down to .53. I feel thinner now.
Thank you, Dr. Berry. Finally, someone speaking truth about the body from the inside out.
I’ve also started seeing a functional medicine/holistic dentist who approaches the mouth the same way.❤
He's not, by any chance, in California, is he?
@@cathiemcginnis3997 No, in Colorado, but he is amazing. I can’t believe how unhealthy going to a traditional dentist is. This dentist even made sure to use carbocaine, rather than Lidocaine because I didn’t want hydrogel or nanoparticles injected in me. So great if you can find one!
@@cathiemcginnis3997No, he is in Colorado. He has truly been amazing for me and if you can find one, I would highly recommend it. He even tested my saliva for different bacteria to see what may be coming from my gut. Now we’re treating the gut & mouth.
How did you find one?
@nancycy9039 I believe Dr Berry has a list, but I haven't got my hands on it yet! I need all new docs. Haven't had one in over 10 years.
Omgosh!! Thank you!! The BMI makes me so frustrated when people use it for me. I'm a woman, and only 5'9, but am actually built with big, thick bones. Yes! I'm actually big boned! My MINIMUM weight is 185lbs, not 120. I'd have to start chopping limbs off to get that small. My Dr is great because she said they added a button for those who are very muscular on their BMI chart and she uses that for me. Now, I totally admit that I have weight to loose, especially after 6 pregnancies, but it isn't over 100lbs, more like 30-40. But trying to use any BMI calculation is a waste of time for people like me.
THANK YOU for finally confirming this! I knew it didn't make sense to have the same chart for men and women.
🎉🎉I dont think you could possibly know how much you are adored Dr. B! THANK YOUUUUU!
So glad I saw this!! My BMI has always been overweight even when I’m my leanest. My WH ratio is .5! this makes me feel much better. Thank you DR Berry
This is great information, doctor. Thanks for this short video which most people can view in the amount of time given. I'm glad now I can drop the BMI crapola.
I am 6'2" and weight 208 and waist 37, and I am 74 years old.. My BMI says that I am overweight and need to get to 186 lbs to be in the NORMAL range. If I were to lose 22 lbs...I would be skin and bones! As is I am starting to get 'old man legs' and losing additional weight would make me look ridiculous. I always wondered about the BMI scale. Thanks Dr. for your fine efforts to educate us folk! HAPPY NEW YEAR! (and now for a bowl of jamoca almond fudge!)
same here, they used to measure my neck , chest and waste (I think) in the army to "pass" me...think they told me the chart said 190 or something...always 20 lbs too much
@@bapam2
.....me too.
I'm 64 y/o, 75.5" tall and weigh 170 lbs. (was 230 lbs. last year, before starting and maintaining a carnivore diet). 37" waist also.
@@commentatron
.....you're lean as heck.
Follow dr Sean O'Mara for tips not to get old man legs
I agree BMI is bs - it always has been, so are other arbitrary "standards". Trying to use "standard" body measurements works only for those with the more usual body type. I'm a good example of that: When I was in the military (Canadian) the standard for physical capabilities was run a mile and a half in under twelve minutes. I comfortably ran a mile and a half in just under ten minutes, had just finished proving it a week after having done a five-mile run in fifty-two minutes wearing combat gear (boots, rations, rig, rifle, helmet, etc.), had a ten minute smoke break and then did a thousand yard run-down on a rifle range to requalify on my weapon with no issues. Yet, I was put on remedial PT. Regardless of your physical capabilities your fitness level was judged by a range of the ratio of your height and your weight. Because I'm 5'4" and was 185lbs. at the time (still short, still in decent-ish shape and still built like a tank, btw) I fell outside the "acceptable" range. So as far as I'm concerned any arbitrary ratio, BMI, height/weight, waist/height, etc is not worth pursuing. Get fit. You'll know it when you feel it.
Just measured. I am .50. Interesting. Glad thats good. Got a keto/glucose monitor. 2.3 ketones and 87 glucose. I need to lose still 30 lbs off the bod. I lose weight like a bathtub (top down) and the scale has been stuck for the past month even with Keto/carnivore/IF 18/6 and fasting 24-36 hrs weekly for past 10 weeks. I will continue this journey cause I feel amazing now. My mind feels incredible the past 3 days!
You’re doing great! Don’t rush the process! I was stuck for 120 days while my body was still busy. The weight didn’t move during that time, but my waist continued to shrink. Now that I’m about 10 lbs short of my goal, the weight is super slow to come off. I’m lucky to get 1 pound loss, but my waist continues to shrink slowly. The dangerous fat is leaving! Yea! Hang in there!!
Cut down on the fats, you'll start losing again
@@user-ym5io2ul1o Nah...don't cut down on the fats, bro. Cut down on everything else except fatty meat, water and some kind of salt. The weight will go FAST if you do this. You have to be disciplined to not stray from that so you can achieve ketosis. That's what makes the weight go down. But then again...if you feel great, who cares about the weight?
@@J3unG thanks. I am in ketosis. 2.3 is the reading. Just stuck here. I think I will kick out all greens and do what you said.
Do you also do intermittent fasting? Just wondering because that helped me get over my hump. I do 12 to 16 hours between my last meal and first meal.
Listen I have been saying this! I have had 2 kids and as expected my stomach got stretched out. I want to get a tummy tuck but alot of doctors won’t work on me because of my BMI. I am a woman’s who is 5’11 and I workout, I’m very strong and yes I am wide and tall and have a very large skeleton. I am bigger than the average man here in the USA, literally. However I carry my weight described as an hour glass figure. I never had issues with weight in my stomach just lots of excess skin I call my mom Roll. These doctors refuse working on me because on my BMI but will work on much shorter women with a much smaller skeleton, and their stomachs are way larger than mine. They actually want my BMI to be the same as a woman who is 5’4-5’5. I did find a Dr. Who works on higher BMI’s but I completely feel this frustration!
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:
00:00 🏥 *BMI measurement limitations*
- BMI is not suitable for individual assessment.
- Factors like height, muscle mass, and build can lead to inaccurate BMI readings.
- BMI is more appropriate for population-level analysis.
01:09 📏 *Waist to Height Ratio as a better measure*
- Waist to Height Ratio (WHtR) is a simple and effective measure of metabolic health.
- WHtR of around 0.5 indicates good metabolic health.
- Research on WHtR focuses on values significantly above 0.5, with limited data for values below.
02:19 📊 *Understanding and assessing WHtR*
- WHtR values significantly above 0.5 indicate metabolic health risks.
- Limited research exists for WHtR values significantly below 0.5.
- Tools like WHtR calculators can help individuals assess their metabolic health status.
Made with HARPA AI
I am at a weight stall since last 6 months. Tape measure and scale alike… I embarked on a fast journey since last week hoping to break this stall. Am at day 7 and my goal is 21 days of no food 💪. I feel good so far, drinking electrolytes and let’s see if it does the job. 😂 am still at the stall only 3 lbs down 🫣. I won’t give in that easy 😂. Thank you doctor Berry you are one of the few doctors who changed my health to the better. 🙏🏻 God bless you man
My delimma is that my waist to height ratio has never been under .53. I come from a line of short people who are much heavier than appearances, but also with more weight in the middle even when in the normal range on health charts. I hope this ratio improves as my metabolic health continues to improve. I have come a long way.
Ok, so according to this I’m far worse off using this method than the bmi. I’ve lost almost 100 pounds, wearing the smallest size clothing I’ve ever worn (size medium) and according to the waist to height I’m highly obese still. Everyone is shocked when I tell them I still want to lose a little more weight because I look thin to them. How am I morbidly obese still?
It says I need to lose 8 inches off my waist yet. Are you kidding me? I’m already in a medium pants. What am I going to wear if I lose 8 inches more? There will be nothing left!
I get the same reaction, but waist reduction doesn’t necessarily mean weight loss. The visceral fat around the waist is the unhealthy fat and it’ll go even without weight loss. I’m living it. I just keep going and my body keeps healing and redistributing itself. I’ve lost about the same amount of weight as you have and my weight is really stable, but waist continues to shrink. Yea! Healthy muscle mass is my goal now!!
My mom is 80 years old, 5’7”, skin and bones at less than 115 pounds, and works hard to keep from losing weight - and it says she is VERY overweight by this measurement. I think this a pure garbage measurement. Bunch of BS.
I had the same reaction. I think the women's side needs more work, but this type of measuring will never be accurate because humans come in so many different shapes and sizes. Especially if he thinks waist means the largest part of your belly. Gotta say I'm pretty disappointed in Dr. Berry this time. If you want an accurate idea of how much fat you have, I think your best bet is a body scan.
Yes. This ruined my night.
Exactly i need a double hip replacement and these orthopedics are so hung up on BMI and im in terrible pain and can hardly walk and you cant tell them any different about BMI ive always kniwn the origin/history of the BMI to no avail im glad to hear a doctor finally realize this.
Yes...but that is not helping you get the surgeries you need so badly.
@gloriarangott8803 yes that's exactly what's holding up my surgery they are saying I weigh too much so they won't do the surgery a whole bunch if what ifs well all surgeries involve risk at different levels so what we stop surgeries based on things that might happen look up the history of the BMI and why it was created and by whom
Hi, I was just doing some research because my mom has 2 bad hips and needs surgery, she is waiting in a long line, while waiting she needs a walker and is in so much pain. It is ridiculous. So I researched and came across this guy just yesterday and shared it with my mom , i do not know if she is going to try or not but she is really tired of the pain etc. you tube video - research......Growing my hip back - restored full function without surgery.....by shapefixer you tube account.
I'm convinced it's a way to put paying patients ahead of undercutting insureds. They want real $$$, not the reduced pay insurance gives. Blame the illegals in large part. That great sucking sound is your health-care vanishing.
I am also trying to wean myself off taking my blood glucose. I have type 2 diabetes and my blood glucose reflects things other than this moment. I have eaten carnivore for 11 days and I know my recovery from diabetes will take time and every time I checked my b.g I would thrill (not in a good way) with fright, anxiety and stress.
I know I am eating well, my body will heal, my adrenals and insulin sensitivity will recover. Eating meat(and lots of animal fat) will support my body healing, thank you
Dr Berry is the first doctor I listen to and that I can understand & believe. Greetings from Germany
I love him too
Dr. Berry, I am seventy years old, intermittent fast for 18 hours a day after eating one meal, and my ratio is .46. Just got back from a five mile hike bye the way. Thank you Dr. Berry, that was powerful information that I really needed to hear, because the BMI says I am fat. The BMI says I am overweight, but my Resting Heart Rate is 49, and my Blood Pressure is 110/78. Take Care Dr. Berry.
Wow ❤ resting heart beat of 49 ! Congraaaaats !!
Doctor Kenny. You rock. Over the last 7 years, I went on a journey to find what really works for me to get healthy. I am now 66. 7 years ago at 6'1" I weighed over 325. I was dying. I learned that sugar and refined carbs were killing me. After getting off those, I lost 80 pounds, but finding you and the carnivore diet I am soon going to cross the 200 pound mark. The height waist ration is very helpful. I am at .583. I have a way to go yet but now have real goals.
God bless you
I had a Navy physical once. They used a neck measurement ratio. I failed the standard. The doc literally said I could just do neck muscle training exercises to increase the size of my neck to pass the standard.
The BMI, body mass index, was something I was taught in engineering school (prior to university) as a simple example of square calucations. It has, as stated, such obvious flaws, that a medical doctor should realize the first time he is encountered with it.
Even the working test measuring oxygen uptake, where grams of oxygen per kilogram of body weight was mathematically slanted to a short (light) person seeming in better shape than a tall (heavy) person.
A lot of the "mathematics" in medicin, is appaling to any engineer, and I'm at the lower end. I'm surprized medical scientists get any calculations correct in medical science, where the statistiscal math required to analyse complex data, is not trivial. since they seem oblivious to the unintended implications of BMI=mass/L^2. The overuse of rtPCR last three years, tells me 95% of doctors doesn't have a mathematical clue.
It’s a sign of a great person to change their mind when they know they were in error and say so. I respect Dr Berry for his honesty.
I can say that I am fit but not a super athlete like my BMI shows! I exercise but not obsessively but according to the BMI I am always exercising! I am so relieved that this waist to height ratio is being used now because it seems to make sense. My ratio is below the 0.5 ratio that is the cut off.
Glad to see you posted this. When working for J&J, the fitness center had one of these electronic devices that one input with height and age, then you hold it at arms length and it gives the percentage of body fat. I later read that there is no research to back up this measurement method. The funny thing is that all the muscular guys would use this religiously. They were obsessed with the least bit of change in their BMI.
Actually, the way waist is measured in a clinical setting is to measure the waist circumference at the midpoint between the lowest part of your rib and the upper part of the hip bone. This is where dieticians measure the waist circumference. This is also where waist circumference is measured in clinical trials.
I went from 300 pounds down to 191 pounds and my doctor insists on adding to my record "morbidly obese" according to my BMI every visit. I have a lot of loose skin around my abdomen, it's hard to measure in inches accurately.
Time for a new doctor who CAN comprehend REALITY
Very interesting post and timely. Was looking at BMI chart earlier. I’ve been on carnivore for 18 days and have lost 18 lbs. I have not used insulin in those 18 days. Amazing start.
I've been saying this for over a decade now. Waist-to-height ratio is a far better metric of metabolic health. Plus, both measurements are units of length, so it works whether you're using the metric system, the English system, or whatever.
Good morning Ken. You are such an effective communicator, here’s wishing you all the best. Keep at it!
W/H: 0.61, down from 0.71 (6 month carnivore, with way too many cheat days.) Also, lost 45 lbs, and A1C down from 6.8 to 5.9.
Yeap, still gotta way to go.
Congratulations!!
That's amazing progress. Keep going, my friend!
Good job.
As long as you are under 6.5 A1C your vital organs, eyes etc. are safe! Good luck I got down to 5.4 then went back up to 5.7, probably the holidays.
4 weeks ketovore going carnivore and feeling great. Down 20 lbs and less inflammation. Already went of my blood pressure meds and don't feel my blood pressure like I use to if I missed my meds.
Dang, you’re smoking’ it! Congratulations!
I told my former doctor that BMI was unrealistic, that it doesn't take into consideration variations in skeletal weight...a mature males skeleton is heavier than the average m nature females skeletal frame.
Some groups of ppl have heavier frames than other groups, yet the BMI chart is universal...and ridiculous.
I also told him that being weighed and having waist/hip measurements taken three different times in three different cubbies by three different people, then sitting in an empty room forever, then have an NP ( nurse practitioner) come in with a clipboard and go over all the BS I just went through, was excessively redundant! At the last, finally, THE doctor walked into the room ...hi how have you been...blah blah blah...
In short I made up my mind that the nonsense was over!!!
When covid came, I canceled my appointment, and have just never gone back.
Sheesh!!!! What a rip-off that time span was...just like the BMI chart
I do needed to hear this! I’ve been checking every few weeks lol. Thank you Dr. Berry you’re the best!! When I tell people I’m still considered obese or overweight and they’re like “where? That can’t be true”! I still can’t figure out my height 🤣. I was always 5’8”. Now I feel like I shrink 🤷🏼♀️.
get you height measured at Dr office (when nurse weighs you). Of course, insist on having shoes OFF and stand up straight, ears back and up. If you are getting shorter, perhaps you need to do some stretching daily.
It's very common to shrink. Starts approx at age 50 and keeps accelerating from there. Stretching can help a little, but I'm not sure of how much!
If you find you are truly shrinking, you need to get bone density testing, see your doctor...
Wow 😳. My family doctor has never offered to do this. It's always been the BMI scale.
Thank you Dr Berry for sharing this
Let's see, BMI is printed out every Doc visit, but I rarely have paid attention because I know of too many instances where it doesn't really apply as a health marker. The same can be said for most bloodwork as the association are not strong especially for cardiac concerns. Had chest pain, went to a cardiologist who gave me an echo, EKG (it was a bit off) and a scan (which said I was OK. Six weeks later, I had my heart attack, so not particularly impressed with health measurements.
Agree. Thank you for that. Critics argue that BMI has limitations as it solely relies on weight and height, neglecting factors like muscle mass and distribution. It may not provide an accurate representation of an individual's overall health or body composition.
What's your Waist:Height Ratio? Tell me in the comments. If it is more than .53 then start doing this to fix it: th-cam.com/video/iTYYMYiMG1U/w-d-xo.html
42% 🎉
Is the measurement taken with the belly relaxed and expanded, or sucking it all in?
Re: @1:35 @KenDBerryMD, please define waist location for both men & women. “the biggest part of your abdomen”. To me, a woman’s waist is at the thinnest part of her middle, correct? Thank you! Hubby 0.58, Me 0.34 or 0.44 depending on where my “waist” is measured.
I am even a bit skeptical about height to waist ratios. It assumes everybody, all races across the globe, has the exact same body proportions. Some are built long and slender, others short and stockier. This is still just a general guideline
Ok doc. I checked and I'm too short. What now? 😊
Still use the formula. Unless you are a little person, then there may be exceptions
I understand friend!
@@Frank087it was a joke… like Garfield said. “I am not too fat, I am too short “
@@carolfergusonyep, the shorter I become the more weight I should lose. I'm 80 years old and have shrunk almost 1 1/2".…...
Stretch to the max 😂
Hey Dr. Berry
Can you do or do you have a video on what it is like to be sick while on the carnivore diet? Differences in feeling? Meds? Best ways to get better?
Thanks.
Davis
Thanks for this. I will check. I am about 5'8" to 5'9" and 4 years ago, I got down into the high 140s which is good for a woman. Then I started training martial arts, and here I am now weighing much more after aggressive training and strength work - low 170s/high 160s. I am still in the same clothing though and comfortably except around my thighs/hips. I've just put on a lot of muscle, especially through the arms and across the shoulders. I will check this out. I've no doubt not all the weight is muscle, but I definitely didn't put on that much fat given that I've weighed a little over 200 with fat in the past and it all sat on me much, much differently.
I cannot stress enough how I wish we could ban this ridiculous umbrella measurement failure BY LAW.
As a personal trainer, I was sick to death of people crying about their doctor using BMI to make them think they are monstrously fat. As a former weightlifter/ bodybuilder, I fired my GP when she used BMI to tell me that I am MORBIDLY OBESE!!!
Waist height ratio is not quite as dumb as bmi. But it’s close! Here’s why, if I’m 3 inches wider in the shoulders and hips, and two inches deeper thru the chest rib cage, against someone who is the same height, then it goes without saying I’m going to have a bigger circumference of the stomach. Btw love your vids, just not this one. 😂
This has been a problem my entire life. In the army and with private doctors, always telling me I am overweight. I've always just had a bit more muscle than most. 6'3" and about 220. I'm maybe 10 lbs from a 6 pack. The "charts" say I should be about 190.
Same here. Im 6'1 and for me to get the not-overweight BMI I'd have to cut muscle.
@@MarkRose1337 docs and "science" are not the saviors we thought they were ....except of course for Ken Berry🤪
I tried telling the Army recruiter years ago when i Was at my most fit point in my life and they would not listen. But thats okay.
It's not that somone will be super obese based on BMI and healthy according to WTH ratio. We can argue that BMI and WTH ratio are wrong/different better or worse but I assume they are highly connected, right? Usually someone with high BMI will also have high waist-to-height ratio anyway. Also someone with bad WTH ratio will have simply high BMI. I assume exception works basically for people with higher than average % of muscle body mass (and BMI is usless for professional bodybuilders)
Thank you for saying that out loud! I always thought BMI was a scam, intended to complicate a very simple concept. We are the same height most of our lives. We can remember what the “healthy weight range” is and can easily see if we’re in that range or not when we step on the scales. BMI was ridiculous, even if you believed in the weight to height ranges they were based on.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 all this. Both pregnancies was red flagged for being obese! 🤦🏻♀️
And each time they came into my first visit and was like you’re not obese. And I said yep that’s the problem with BMI to dictate if you’re obese….. they kept it in my file for both the entire time. 😭🤦🏻♀️
Thank you for this! I’m a very fit female, high muscle mass & lean. I’m not a body builder, I just stay fit & I’m
naturally lean & muscular. I have the build of a dancer or gymnast & I’m always being told by doctors I need to “lose 10-15lbs because your BMI category is overweight”. I’m a size 4!!! My cycle
will stop if I lose that much weight! So if I follow the doctors advice, I’ll cause a hormone imbalance, but my BMI will be acceptable to them 🤦🏼♀️
.463 waist to height! Loving this Ketovore life, been here for 18 months, having my BEST life!!
I’m so fed up with primary care physicians. They never measured my hight. Just wrote a number down. Six years ago I was 5’11” a few months ago they put me at 5’7”. I know people shrink as they age. But 4” come on! I was measured 6 months ago and was 5’10”.
Sorry for saying this. But I think the majority of doctors out there are manipulated by big farma. Just my opinion. Thanks for the video Dr. Berry.
You are absolutely correct. They are just overpaid pill pushers. I had a doctor years ago who would enter the exam room with a prescription pad in her hand and ask "what can I get for you today?"
@@thelmahenriques6454 , I think I was born in the wrong era. Doctors were better doctors when they had to barter for their services. Just my opinion. Medicine is corrupt! Just another opinion. Some medicine is good but some are bad. I don’t want to be their Ginny pig!
Mine is .52
Thanks doctor. I look so slim, but BMI showed me overweight. 😅
Wow, thank you for busting this huge nut bomb of knowledge on us Dr. Ken! Keep showering us with your wisdom.
Thank you Dr Berry! A problem with waist:height is defining where the waist is, Many say the waist is the narrowest point'.
From what I've read you're supposed to measure at the position of your navel with the tape horizontal at that height. That is approximately the narrowest point of your torso but well above the belt line for most folks.
@@ceejay0137Not if you are female. My smallest part is 3 inches smaller than my belly button measurement. I used the belly button, not my real waist.
OMG! Thank you for saying BMI is dumb.
I have said this for years.
Dr Berry, I lost a ton of weight last year on the carnivore diet and then on a high meat based keto. But then I fattened myself up like the guy from super size me over the last 2.5 months. I was lifting weights at the gym 4 times a week and walking 15k steps a day but couldn’t stop the weight gain from just about one thousand calories of junk a day. Now I’m running a strict carnivore diet again and but measuring my changes over the next 40 days. I just did my baseline blood work, are you interested in having a chat?
I recently had a baby and since baby was breech, was told I would need a c-section. The OB wrote in my chart that my complications of pregnancy were malpresentation of fetus and OBESITY due to high bmi. I was a normal weight beginning the pregnancy and I was 9 months pregnant when the chart was written. My bmi was high because I was 9 months pregnant. I was not obese. I'm assuming this was something necessary for coding and billing purposes. Ridiculous.
Also, the notion that waist under 35" is necessary for women. But at what height? Also, I have loose skin from being 90 lbs heavier and having a near 10 lb baby at 5'9". I feel like I just need a Dexa scan. 😜
.47 measured at belly button; bmi is 22.4. Seems like bmi matches my waist/height ratio pretty well.
What a great video!
I'm overweight now but when I was a kid that BMI said I was overweight when I was really fit.
I am presently at 0.52 and know that number must come down. Thanks for sharing this simple test and metric Doc. !
I am 5'6 and acc to BMI should weigh between 120 and 150.however my lean body mass was 130 and I looked scrawny and malnourished at 156. Throw the bmi chart out,its nonsense.
Biggest part is misleading. That would be measuring across my hips to catch the little tummy pooch, which is actually my intestinal distention from a twisted colon. So I would think you mean slightly above the umbilicus, which is my waist, but it is the smallest, not biggest, if you are hourglass shaped.
You can also do waist-to-hip ratio. For women it should be 0.8 or less.
That was a comment towards men with guts, who often wear pants around their hips.
You should be measuring around your natural waist, not your hips.
Your official waist is 2 fingers above you hip bone. Measure 3 times while breathing normally and take the average.
I was part of a big DNA health study and that is how the measurements were taken.
@@MarkRose1337 It's funny when I see that (which is often) and they brag about their waist as being no bigger than when they were in high school! 🤭
As a 45 year RD, I never understood the obsession of BMI. We never used this until nurses in federal agencies such as CMS determined that this was useful. As a nursing home administrator, surveyors used BMI to evaluate if RDs were providing "nutritional" guidance - to 80 and 90 year olds. Absolutely nuts.
This is fantastic. I am quite muscular and always showing high on bmi scale. This great info I be doing this from now on. I sending to few people.
Wait a second, what if you have water weight or bloating from IBS-C? Wouldn't that throw the numbers off?
I'm 4'10" and even at my skinniest never had much of a waist. From the bottom of my ribcage to the top of my pelvis is only a few inches. I can look like a stick, lol, but will never have a tiny curved waist.
I'm 4 10 too! I don't have much of a waist but I've got a big bottom and hips and large bust .
I'm convinced this impacts my BMI negatively.
I am 4'9" and my height isn't even on the doctors charts! I sat down and calculated my height by what THEIR CHARTS think I should be. According to them I should weight 87 lbs. Considering the fact that I have an hourglass figure, my waist is small but my hips are wide with a large bum. If I go by my waist & height to measure myself I look great, but if I go by my weight & height I'm considered obese.
I think we are all different and what might be a good measuring stick for some will not work for others.
When I was in high school I was too thin at 95 pounds. When I married I was 120. I felt my most comfortable at 130. Therefore my goal in my mid-60s is 130. Screw the charts! I am light-years more healthy than my parents were at my age (62) and can walk for miles and not be winded. Measuring one person by other people's body standards just doesn't give you a measurement of health. Period!
Me too.....grrrr
I am 4'11" and I weigh 100 lbs. I have no waistline because there is about 1/2 inch between my bottom rib and my pelvis. I am straight up and down like a 12 year old boy!
Suppose to measure at the belly button, so the tiny waist means nothing anyhow.
. If I had measured at my real waist I would be in the slim instead of healthy range. 3 inch difference. The gap was bigger before having children. I use to half to sew in the waistline on pants.
Wide hips just like mom. Use to do hip rolls trying to make them smaller. Big butts were not in back then.
The straight up and down Twiggy look was in. You would have been great.
I laughed and laughed at this story Doc Berry . Was in the military, was on the overweight program for a very long time, due to muscularity and a very short body with long legs......
I was usually working out extra and my colonel knew that. Once, I was on a special duty detail so, I didn't do any Army calisthenics so I swam a mile 2 x /day rather than once. met the colonel, he asked about my weight, I was down to 178 at 70.5" and he stated he thought I looked unhealthy and asked about my next weigh in date. He showed up, didn't say much, then when I was done said, I don't believe that SGT "F"..... should be on this program. Took my data to a medical pal of his and personally had me removed after briefing that doc on what I was doing etc etc.....
so I was done but, due to body shape I likely would never have made it out of that program w/out his intervention.....and seems that the ratio you present would have prevented a ton of that happening to me.....LMBO - great vid Doc like almost all the rest...
Yep
5'8" size 10 and 169Lbs .
The nurse couldn't believe and asked..where is that weight coming from..
Well..I am a really big boned girl.
Typically northern European.. big frame like my dad.
So BMI puts me at OBESE level .
LOL😂
Thanks as always Dr. B! ❤❤❤
The best guide in my unscientific and practical way of measuring waist measurements is my trouser size which is 34 regular with 30 inside leg. The problem measuring your waist with a tape measure is that it is difficult to get an accurate measure because it is easy to get the tape skewed around your waist perhaps even over your hips. I have found the best way using tape measure is to breathe in then put the tape around your waist and then breathe out.
I have decreased my trouser waist size from 40 regular 30 inside leg to 34 regular inside leg, when I had to wear the larger size then even though I wore a belt my trousers would fall down to my ankles if I did not keep pulling them. My height is 5ft 10ins but waist to hip ratio could be a good guide to.
Neither BMI or waist/height is worth a damn as a metric. Both are fast and easy, but not indicative. People have different skeletal dimensions. Body fat percentage measured by water displacement is the best bang for the buck. Want a really good number? Try a whole body scan for $300. Another beef if have is the 5' nurse has a difficult time measuring my 6' height. Then I tell her my naked weight, which she ignores and insists that she weigh me with my clothes on and doesn't subtract the 5 pounds of clothes. She doesn't even tell me. I had to go to my electronic file to find these errors.
I don't fret what the med corp says. Mine measured similarly (I'd argue deliberately) to create inflated stats of fat folks.
I feel ______ is my indication. Not based on what their generic umbrella stats indicate.
This is such an easy number to use, its sad that all the sites that have this information, make it difficult to download (like in sign up and give us your email). Good information is always suspicious when they want your contact information.
BMI is 💩. My chest measurement is bigger than than my waist, third year of my paleo low carb journey. That's good enough for me, right now.
Lean muscle mass with some body fat, not a real health outcome predictor. At 68 I'm not chasing my 20 year old self, 5 foot 11 and 175 lbs.
Now 210 lbs down from 235 lbs. GOOD ENOUGH with VA blood work. 💪🙏
Please, dr Berry, you have helpt me to get my glucose down, and I already thanked you for that! But I have a question: if I drink about one US pint pure natural mineral water 04:00 in the morning, do I still have an "empty stomach" two hours later? If not, then when? I need the water, and I need to drink the olive oil as well! (I am 79 years old) Thank you, and I will pray for you!
Wait...what? At the largest part of the abdomen? Then it's not a waist to height measurement.
I’m 62. In high school I was 5 9 and weighed 185 with a 32” waste. Muscle, fullback build. Today I weight 195 and they claim im obese. When I was on the liver transplant list the “nutritionist” wanted me to get down to 165 for the potential surgery. THAT almost killed me.
Amen! I would run over 40 miles a week ( when I shouldn’t have) just to reach the arbitrary bmi figure. I now have a lot of arthritis ( probably from all the miles ran) If I had only known.
My waist to height ratio is 1.26 my height is 63 inches and my waist is 51 inches around my belly button I weigh 218 pounds I'm 5 foot 3 inches tall
I've lost 175 pounds and my ratio is still .7 . I feel like no effort, no success, will ever be enough.
The waist is the midline between the bottom of your rib cage and top of thr pevic bone. And measure first thing in the morning where you're less bloating after digesting the food the day before.
Wow. Turns out I'm highly obese. Was not expecting that.
Thanks Doc!!! This is great infi❤
I think some women can have very pinched waists, though, if they're an hourglass shape. My ratio works out to 0.37 because I'm tall, but I've got some child birthin hips and a distinct Buddha belly going on, and I carry a lot of weight on my chest, so heaven knows what my body fat/visceral fat composition actually is. I don't want to know. I have friends who are super athletic, no visible fat on them, defined abs, but don't have very defined waists, and they'd probably be nearer the 0.5 mark or over because they're short. So, kinda the same issues as with BMI.
Need to get the military government on this way as they use the bmi test for pt standards
I was 6’4” 225lbs when I was in the Marines. I ran a 16 min 3 mile PFT and was lean. The government BMI chart had me overweight and I was on a weight control program for the entire 5 years I was enlisted.