I vehemently disagree with your first point regarding the quality of health care systems, but will not derail the thread to discuss it.  My point the obesity data is somewhat misleading because very few countries (such as the US and UK) report data based on actual measurements.  Third World countries under report their data because they are using estimates.

That's true with almost anything relating to statistics in the third world. However there's more to the developed world than the UK and the US, and it's only really the developed world that would make relevant comparisons anyway.

You can't disagree with facts. But it does look like Obama is going to try and change that, so good on him.

There really aren't any facts when it comes to healthcare statistics.  Just political spin.

If you looke at Demotruk he stated that both the US healthcare sysem is worse, and the US has a worse lifestyle.

Yet the US stats aren't very far behind Europe in life expectancy... the difference of which can actually be explained by the fact that the US has a lot more murders.

Outside that, the US has higher survival rates for most major causes of death then europeon countries including the big 3 killers that account for most premature deaths.

You are more likely to live longer in europe.  Yet, if you have a major illness you are more likely to survive in the US.

The second is a much better indicator of healthcare if you ask me.  Actual treatment of illnesses vs simple life expectancy which can be effected by crime rates and culutral problems like overeating.

Also different reporting methods... since pretty much every europeon countries have "qualfiers" on what counts as a baby.  If it dies after birth but is too small it is not considered a child.  While the US counts any child birthed no matter how small our light it was.

for the birds? yes

eh you are overweight monstamack, I'm 5'8 and 160 I just reached ok BMI =P used to be 130 until college kicked in...(

edit: and that 130 was kinda muscly, went to the gym 4 times a week, drank a protein shake after each workout and took a 1 hour nap after as well. 

Professional fighters are probably not the best example to use for the validity of the BMI system since competition is based upon weight classes which invariably means athletes must cut weight before weighing in the day before their bout.

Typically, a fighter cuts anywhere from 5-10% of their body weight the day before a bout (drop water weight in the sauna, emptying GI tract, etc.), often more. So a fighter who weighs in at 225 lbs to make the weight limit actually walks around at 240lbs or more. If a fighter is really competing in the weight class he should be in, there isn't much room for excess weight (fat) if he doesn't want to cut a lot of weight before a fight. Most compete in lower weight classes than they really should to stay competitive. And they do this by dropping a significant amount of water weight before weighing in.

But that's really where the BMI system comes up shortest; it does not take into account body composition.

Unfortunately, a lot of people (and a sizable chunk of people who have used Wii Fit) use this as an excuse to completely disregard the BMI system because they don't want to perceive themselves as being "overweight." So they'll justify this by saying they lift weights, they're an athlete, etc. without even knowing what their body composition happens to be.

Many professional (or high level competition) athletes have body fat percentages in the single digits, almost down to the essential body fat levels (under 5% for men). With that little fat, it takes a lot of muscle tissue to put an athlete into the "overweight" category, even according to the BMI system.

But these are the individuals for which the BMI system does not really apply to, rather than the guy who may lift a lot of weights, but still has a significant amount of body fat (over 20% is considered unhealthy). It's still possible to be "normal" weight under the BMI system and still have an unhealthy percentage of body fat if you have very low muscle mass.

A simple tape test comparing the neck, waist and chest measurments is one way, electrical resistance scales will also estimate body water percentage and body fat percentage, which are better indicators of fitness than a simple height to weight ratio which is all the BMI system is.

It actually told me the opposite

btw...I'm 6'2'' and 140 lbs.

If you're 5'11 or 6 foot and you weigh 143, you need to hit the gym. That's pathetic. I'm 5'6 and I weigh like 160, and I don't work out all that often.

Actually body fat percentage of 20 is normal. Not many professional athletes have single digit fat percentages.