that whole inertia thing that mass attracts mass. the question is what kind of mass do you want to accumulate. and whether mass converts to energy. sure there's a evolution disposition to store fat, but that was assuming there would be enough times for it to turn into energy. so not surprising that the extreme ends acquire mass so much faster.

 

That, and cheeseburgers are like, really tasty...

 

I've always had a problem with the BMI calculation. Taking into account only height and weight to calculate whether or not you are "normal," "overweight," or "obese," disregards other variables such as body musculature(which you mentioned), as well as bone structure.

According to BMI I am an obese person. Being a male at 6'4" and 265lbs puts me at 32.3BMI. Now I'll be the first to admit that I'm not ready to run a marathon, but I would hardly classify myself as overwieght, let alone obese.

When I enquired at my doctor's office (just last week actually) about Body Mass Index, they confirmed my concerns and told me that it wasn't a reliable tool in a lot cases. After perfoming a different test, involving wierd looking pinching instruments and about 20 minutes, my doctor informed my that I was only slightly above average in body fat, at around 24. Which, if we were using the BMI chart, would put my weight at 197lbs, a 68lb difference from my current weight.

I don't have much clue as to why I wrote this diatribe, I've been reading your blog for about 3years now, since you first started your decahedron DiabloII lists, and have never been compelled to post a comment or reply before. I know that a large portion of Americans, as well as Canadians, are becoming more and more obese; but I think that a generalized tool such as the BMI chart is not what we should be using to measure one's health.

And for the record, my doctor agrees with me, and said I am of a healthy weight, and that if I were to lose 68lbs and comform to what BMI says is right for my height, I'd be in danger of developing severe health problems.

 

I can say one thing about obesity: it is a pretty sneaky little specter. In high school, I gained 50lbs without even being aware of it. No severe emotional emptiness that I was filling with food or anything like that, either. I just went about my day-to-day and enjoyed life. Granted, I have a fairly large frame (I was constantly pestered to be on the football teams of the few different high schools I attended), but the weight I put on was clearly visible...I just didn't see it.

It warrants mentioning that even at my fattest I was "only" 270lbs (I've since lost it and then some). The point is that it happens before people realize it, and many lack the company to tell them that their ass has developed a gravitational field. By the time it's severe enough to be noticed by the party in question, it is far too late to casually reverse the damage...extreme lifestyle changes are required, and that isn't something we Americans are very good at ;). It's a sad state of affairs, but the individual has only him/herself to blame in the end.