Why weight?

Mary,

Thanks for your posts. As I stated elsewhere in this thread I also think BMI
is comparable to weight and useless on it's own, but when used in
conjunction with BF% the combination provides a useful measure of progress.
I don't advocate BF% on it's own because someone can have a low BF% but be
really unhealthy skinny with wasted muscles, although I know this is far
from most peoples situations. If someone's BF% has stayed the same for a
month but their BMI has gorn up then this is good because it means they've
put on more lean tissue. If BMI stays the same but BF% goes down then this
is also good news as it means that fat loss has been equal to lean tissue
increase. Using just weigh the first scenario would show a negative result
when it was infact positive. In the second scenario using weight would show
no change when in fact progress had been made. I suggest BMI over weight
because it's easier to measure against a standardised chart that suggests a
healthy range for ones BMI. Also BMI is more easily comparable with other
people's BMI but I can't think of a reason why this is particularly
advantages.

I agree BMI on it's own is not a good measure, such as the case of your
trainer.

Nick.

"Mary M/Ohio" wrote in message
...
P.S. -- forgot to mention that I think BMI numbers are a really bad way
to
measure fitness -- my trainer who has a perfectly muscular gorgeous build
is
considered obese by BMI standards.

Mary

"Concordia" wrote in message
...

However, body fat scales are
notoriously inaccurate.


Maybe Tanitas and the like are, but the professional ones are supposed to be
within 1 to 1.5% accuracy -- like the one my nutritionist uses (electrode
placed on hand and foot) -- it also measures hydration levels.

Mary M
325-165-

"Concordia" wrote in message
...

However, body fat scales are
notoriously inaccurate.


Maybe Tanitas and the like are, but the professional ones are supposed to be
within 1 to 1.5% accuracy -- like the one my nutritionist uses (electrode
placed on hand and foot) -- it also measures hydration levels.

Mary M
325-165-

"Mary M/Ohio" wrote in message
...
"Concordia" wrote in message
...

However, body fat scales are
notoriously inaccurate.


Maybe Tanitas and the like are, but the professional ones are supposed to
be
within 1 to 1.5% accuracy -- like the one my nutritionist uses (electrode
placed on hand and foot) -- it also measures hydration levels.

Mary M
325-165-


I don't remember what type they used at Curves but they usually measured
about the same as my Tanita at home. I was pleased when the body fat
percentage at Bally's matched my Tanita, too. I've never used the number as
much as I have used it to see the overall trend in body fat change. Maybe
one of these days I'll have one done that is a little more accurate.

Beverly
177/ 144/ 140

"Beverly" wrote in message
...

"Mary M/Ohio" wrote in message
...
"Concordia" wrote in message
...

However, body fat scales are
notoriously inaccurate.


Maybe Tanitas and the like are, but the professional ones are supposed to
be
within 1 to 1.5% accuracy -- like the one my nutritionist uses (electrode
placed on hand and foot) -- it also measures hydration levels.

Mary M
325-165-


I don't remember what type they used at Curves but they usually measured
about the same as my Tanita at home. I was pleased when the body fat
percentage at Bally's matched my Tanita, too. I've never used the number
as
much as I have used it to see the overall trend in body fat change. Maybe
one of these days I'll have one done that is a little more accurate.


I think that's the most intelligent use of those tests -- not to determine
dead-on accuracy, but to follow your own trend in body fat change. That's
how I use my results!

Mary

"Beverly" wrote in message
...

"Mary M/Ohio" wrote in message
...
"Concordia" wrote in message
...

However, body fat scales are
notoriously inaccurate.


Maybe Tanitas and the like are, but the professional ones are supposed to
be
within 1 to 1.5% accuracy -- like the one my nutritionist uses (electrode
placed on hand and foot) -- it also measures hydration levels.

Mary M
325-165-


I don't remember what type they used at Curves but they usually measured
about the same as my Tanita at home. I was pleased when the body fat
percentage at Bally's matched my Tanita, too. I've never used the number
as
much as I have used it to see the overall trend in body fat change. Maybe
one of these days I'll have one done that is a little more accurate.

Beverly
177/ 144/ 140

I've just discovered a fun body fat test! If I stay still in the swimming
pool, I now sink rather than float!

Rachael
176/152/124