by Amy Biederman
According to Science News, there is a new way to calculate Body’s “Maximum Weight Limit”. Most of us know the widely used BMI or Body Mass Index. This term refers to an index that calculates a healthy body weight for a particular height. The formula to do so is complicated because the weight in pounds needs to be multiplied by 703 and then divided by the person’s height in inches squared. Besides the formula, one can find their Body Mass Index on a BMI chart that indicates a healthy range. This index has not only proven to be complex to calculate, but also does not include weight due to muscle rather than fat. In fact, the BMI is only accurate for 90% of the population.
George Fernandez, a professor of Applied Statistics and Director of the Center for Research Design and Analysis at the University of Nevada, Reno, made it his mission to give people a simpler way of calculating a healthy weight rather than “range”. His method doesn’t require people to use charts or online calculators. In his opinion, people need a “MWL” or a “Maximum Weight Limit” so we know what weight we can’t go over. Although his method does not differ from the BMI scale, it is simpler.
For men and women, there is a baseline weight and height. For women, the baseline is 5 feet tall and a MWL of 125 lbs. For men, the baseline is 5-feet, 9-inches tall and a MWL of 175 lbs. He considers this male and female baseline the starting point of his MWL scale. From that baseline, you simply calculate how much taller/shorter you are (in inches). Then, if you are a woman, you add/subtract 4.5 lbs for each inch they differ from the baseline. Men, on the other hand, add/subtract 6 lbs for every inch they are shorter/taller than the baseline. In comparison to the widely known BMI, Fernandez’s MWL is 24.5 for women and 25.5 for men. According to the BMI, the healthy range is 18.5-25. Fernandez explains that he chose a slightly lower BMI for women and slightly higher BMI for men because typically women have less muscle mass than men. Besides being simple, the MWL can be used more universally because individuals who do not have access to technology and charts can still find their maximum weight and maintain a healthy weight lower than their calculated MWL.
It seems that both the MWL and BMI are fairly similar in their findings, however the MWL is easier for someone to calculate. I was never a fan of the BMI because I feel that is does not take muscle into consideration. As an athlete, I exercise on a regular basis and am toned, however, I am at the upper end at the “healthy range” according to the BMI. I feel that it is an inaccurate way of measuring. This is especially true for weight lifters such as my boyfriend and brothers. Both are over their “healthy range” and are considered overweight or even obese. It is ironic to find that analysis when you look at them and see what great shape they are in. However, according to this article the BMI is only accurate for 90% and individuals like myself or my brother and boyfriend may be part of the 10% where the BMI may not be truly accurate. Unlike the BMI, the MWL may be more resourceful because it gives you a maximum that partly takes muscle mass into consideration, which leads to the slight alteration from the BMI. Also, it is easier to remember one weight to stay below, and one number can lead to an easier goal or maintenance barrier.
I found this article important because the BMI is widely used weight index. However, with the MWL being a simpler method that leads to a similar finding, I thought it would be resourceful for people to know about. I know that I personally figured out my MWL in a matter of seconds!
