Where are you on the Global Fat Scale?

The BBC has a very unusual BMI calculator - it lets you see your BMI in context with the average person of your gender, by country, worldwide.

It's true French women are slim: they have a BMI of less than 23. Compare that to the average American woman's BMI of 29.4.

Try it! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18781786

That's cool! And I feel better about myself here in the USA (lower than average) than I do in the rest of the world (higher). Even Italy, land of pasta has a BMI of 23.6.

I'm most like someone from Yemen. Very appropriate, since I love FRIENDS so much. Only other FRIENDS lovers will get that...

I got a 23.7... 134 and 40 years old puts me at Italy lol! AND I CAN'T EAT PASTA??? Now that's funny!
Erica.... think Pheobe would go with you?

Well I know Chandler would.. Wouldn't that be torture to live pasta-free in Italy?!!

Slovenia! 26 BMI; lower than 71% of American males, but higher than 66% of males in the world.

I was Canada btw. Totally could move there very easily, eh!

And yes I totally get the Yemen! I love FRIENDS!

Oh.My.Gawwd.

I'm smiling so much at these Yemen comments!

I've never been able to see BMI on a global scale before, very interesting. I am most like a Somalian. Now I feel like I want to try Somalian food. Hmm... I couldn't even tell you what that would be!

flies? (oh, that was a very very bad joke. I'm pissed at myself for even typing it...)

Armenia. BMI 23% lower than 78% of females in the U.S and 58% above females in the world. Pretty interesting.

This is a BMI scale, not obesity scale, there's a big difference.

Since BMI is used to gauge obesity, maybe you could explain the difference to us, bpraters1. Thank you.

Eritrea!

Vietnam!!! Really??

'You're most like someone from Barbados'
Uh.
Cool I think?

My goal BMI is in Yemen though, haha.

BMI is a poor and rough measure of obesity since it only takes into account height and weight so one person with a lot of fat and little muscle might have the same or lower BMI of a person of similar weight and height but with a lot of muscles and little fat, while actually being way fatter

This one takes a little more detail to give you a better idea for more muscular people. BMI is about the same.

http://www.biggly.com/bigglyb.php

Good Heavens! You can have a low BMI and be very muscular, but still drop dead of a heart attack...or get run over by a bus and then, so what? I think striving for a healthy, less stressful lifestyle is FAR more important than relying on these numbers to "tell us" we're healthy...

I agree, Baxie and Paperiniko. My post is really just interested in the global context presented, which is something I had not seen before. As for fitness, BMI is a poor measure. Better to ask how fast you can run 3 miles, regardless of weight!

BMI readings, like cholesterol levels or blood pressure readings, are a good place to start when you want to improve your health...I think we should view them as such...Your post IS interesting. I've never seen such a thing, either. Thanks for sharing