BMI is it the be all and end all?

[Tigger2016]

Was told my BMI was 28 ( I'm 5-7 ( and a half).

Was told I need to have a BMI of 22 to be perfect but I should aim for 25.
I'm a 12/14 in clothes - not fussed about losing weight but would like to tone up a bit.

Personally I think if I lost weight I would look 'drawn' and ill.

Thoughts on BMI in general?

Works for 80% population using the entire range. The other 20 tend to be athletes/ outliers. Think of normal distribution curve and it's actually OK - a very small proportion of the population do not fit into the ranges but they are statistical outliers.

The fact our population is shifting to the right ( heavier) doesn't mean the range is completely wrong.

Very accurate at measuring risk of CVD in people - but that's looking at the population - have used it against real data to model for different UK populations. Based on that analysis done in five different UK geographical areas, I'd be looking to get to 26 - 28 is the point at which CVD related diseases sharply increased in incidence/ prevalence.

Doctors don't care about fat/ thin for appearance - they care about the risk/ increased probability of disease.

The point many people make about their rugby playing mate or Olympic rower being considered obese by BMI but being really fit - a lot of ex rugby/ rowers end up with CVD related disease later in life. Admittedly a lot give up sport due to age/ injury and don't substitute with another equally demanding sport - but it's a risk factor, same as blood pressure, cholesterol. We've just got warped in how we use it.

You could always check how you stand against the waist measurement for diabetes risk - I generally found BMI was more generous for the majority of people.

Who told you you have to lose weight? My BMI is 27, and I'm very active (10 + hours of vigorous activity such as running and weight lifting a week), I eat my 5 a day, I don't smoke, and, while I could cut down on wine, don't drink crazy amounts. Went to the GP last week, blood tests came back perfect and my GP told me to keep up the good work.

My BMI is higher than that as have been inactive for a long period due to injury. The nurse did all my tests, including heart and I came back as fit as a flea. My diet is good apart from I keep getting told that "I don't eat enough" (ridiculous), so I don't have too much confidence in the BMI

Well I'm guessing I'm one of your outliers, bookish: Waist measurement is faaaar more generous to me than BMI. According to BMI I am overweight, but my waist-height ratio and my waist-hip ratio are ideal. I'm no athlete, though I am reasonably well-muscled... just a common-or-garden pear shape - I carry my weight on my hips, bum and thighs, where it does least damage. As it happens, I'm trying to lose a few more pounds, but it's really about vanity at this stage, as I don't believe the BMI scale is a great indicator of my health risks.

OP, I find it slightly odd that you've been told BMI of 22 is "perfect". Granted, it's about the middle of the "healthy range", but the reason there is a range is meant to reflect that there are more factors to the ideal weight than just height. You might be better off near the top end of that range, whereas someone with less muscle mass, or who carries their weight round their midriff is likely to be safer at the lower end of the range.