Look Who it Was Random video

Giving BMI Proper Weight

1,010 views · Published 13 October 2014 · 1:33 · Indexed 25 October 2026

Channel: Lee Health · 2014 · Science & Technology

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Vinnie Munoz watches his weight. "I'm 277 pounds." 

Is careful about what he eats, "Right now I’m at 2,100 calories a day and I eat chicken and vegetables six times a day; small meals."  

He works at his health, "I lift every day."

But according to standard measures, his body mass index is off-the-charts.

 “I’m obese, but I have more muscle mass than anything,” says Munoz. 

These days it’s not only the gym trainer, but the cardiologist that might be analyzing your BMI. 

“When we look at the BMIs there’s a clear correlation with higher BMIs and bad outcomes: more heart attacks, more strokes, more sleep apnea, more high blood pressure and high cholesterol,” says Dr. Brian Taschner, a cardiologist with Lee Memorial Health System. 

A good measuring stick, the BMI isn’t one-size-fits-all. Age and sex can make a difference. So can location. To get a truer picture, doctors look at where body fat is stored.

“There are other tests to do, like a body fat percentage, a waist circumference to look at the distribution of fat,” says Dr. Taschner. 

As for people like Vinnie, it could mean that it’s possible to be fit but not trim.

“The body mass index does not apply well to very athletic people; a big guy that is muscular. The BMI just doesn’t apply well,” says Dr. Taschner. 

The takeaway: it’s important to mindful of the measures, but look at the person, not just the number. 

View More Health Matters video segments at leememorial.org/healthmatters/

Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

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