From what I understand, BMI is a useful indicator of health through strain being placed on heart & other major organs (higher BMI more strain) but that the height/weight/obese charts were set up post WWII when there were shed loads of USMC hanging around trying not to slot each other. They were put through measurement and provided us with all sorts of physiometric info such as the percentile-man charts. This is one of the reasons that most houses, cars etc are designed to fit somebody that is 5' 8" as that was the 95%-man and anyone over 6'2" was a freak of nature. Also why somebody who trains a fair amount, is 6'2" (190cm) and 18 stone (115kg) can be "Class 2 Obese" (extra risk of coronary problems & diabetes etc) yet the Docs say nothing because "Oh but you train and play rugby don't you". I also recently read in a Fitness magazine that the height/weight & BMI should not be applied to those of an athletic build!
Rant Off
