BMI: slim but heavy bone||muscle

Multiple people have told me that if my BMI is close to the upper limit of green zone, then given my body shape I must have heavier bones or muscles. I usually dismiss them, insisting that I want a better BMI.

In hindsight, I realize these individuals are not uneducated, speculating or flattering. They know me reasonably well. Their words actually mean something.  Now I recognize that

  • if your bones are heavier than other people’s, then it’s probably a sign of better bone density
  • if your muscles are heavier than other people’s, then it’s a pretty good thing. Muscles burn more calories.
  • ^^ an athlete may have higher BMI due to denser bones + more muscles

My target weight is 64 kg. If it means sexual difficulties, losing bone density/muscle, or (like grandpa) losing taste in good foods (fish, meat, fruits,,,), then that target is an unhealthy target, not a worthwhile target.

Writing this bpost, I feel the 64 kg target is moving further and further away, but this sentiment is not based on facts.

BMI is one of the the most important single_indcators of overall health, but any single_indicator is wholy inadequate, misleading and can be detrimental if used exclusively. Analogy:

  • choose a car purely based on sales
  • choose a husband purely based on income
  • choose a school purely based on ranking
  • choose a major purely based on starting salary survey
  • choose a house purely based on school district
  • choose a SWE candidate purely based on hackerrank