Does Anyone Here Know the Average Lean Weight of People in General Across the World?

[bjhealth]

Does Anyone Here Know the Average Lean Weight of People in General Across the World?

It would be interesting to read about correlations and differences statistically for age, height, gender and geographic location.

I am 34 years old, 5'10" male and live in Southeastern USA. For years I've tried to maintain a bodyfat percentage of 10% and weight of 150lbs which would give me a lean weight of 135lbs.

L = B – PB

where:

L = lean weight
B = bodyweight
P = percentage of bodyfat

 

[Steve]

Does Anyone Here Know the Average Lean Weight of People in General Across the World?

It would be interesting to read about correlations and differences statistically for age, height, gender and geographic location.

I am 34 years old, 5'10" male and live in Southeastern USA. For years I've tried to maintain a bodyfat percentage of 10% and weight of 150lbs which would give me a lean weight of 135lbs.

L = B – PB

where:

L = lean weight
B = bodyweight
P = percentage of bodyfat

Strange question. I don't think you are going to find an answer.

 

[bjhealth]

Strange question. I don't think you are going to find an answer.

Why not?

What's your lean weight?

 

[Steve]

Why not? Because you are asking for an average FFM of the entire world. I don't think this is a statistic that you will find, that is all.

What is my FFM?

Around 175-180 lbs at the moment. I don't pay too much attention to the number though while I am bulking.

 

[bjhealth]

lol

I was just curious. You're probably right about never finding out but I might learn a little by asking.

It would be interesting to know. It would also be interesting to know how a person's Fat Free Mass to height ratio correlates to life expectancy and general health.

 

[Steve]

I think BF% is a better statistic to compare for life expectancy predictions. There are none out there though.

It's the visceral fat that kills.

 

[Juliette1]

About weight and life expectancy:
04.19.2005 - Both obesity and underweight linked to excess deaths, new study finds

Among other things this states that
"Surprisingly, being overweight - defined as having a BMI between 25 and 30 - was actually linked to fewer excess deaths than being of normal weight."

Read about another, more recent European study some weeks ago, but couldn't locate that. There was more focus on body composition.
Just my 0.05 euros..

Juliette

 

[maleficent]

there was some news article i saw recently (and don't remember if it was in JAMA or one of the other medical publications or on CNN.com) but it listed the average BMI for various countries in europe vs those of the US - and italy ended up being the healthiest county with the US coming in dead last

there's an annual article that comes out every year about the healthiest and unhealthiest us cities...

 

[Steve]

About weight and life expectancy:
04.19.2005 - Both obesity and underweight linked to excess deaths, new study finds

Among other things this states that
"Surprisingly, being overweight - defined as having a BMI between 25 and 30 - was actually linked to fewer excess deaths than being of normal weight."

Read about another, more recent European study some weeks ago, but couldn't locate that. There was more focus on body composition.
Just my 0.05 euros..

Juliette

This doesn't say much in reality. It is more of a statistical survey rather than hard science about what fat does to the body. Trust me, being overweight is not healthy, and I know that is not what you are suggesting. I also am well aware of the fact that most skinny or even normal-weight people walking about the globe are far from healthy too.

 

[Steve]

there was some news article i saw recently (and don't remember if it was in JAMA or one of the other medical publications or on CNN.com) but it listed the average BMI for various countries in europe vs those of the US - and italy ended up being the healthiest county with the US coming in dead last

there's an annual article that comes out every year about the healthiest and unhealthiest us cities...

Healthiest based on what? BMI?

If so, that is not good stats IMO.

 

[bjhealth]

About weight and life expectancy:
04.19.2005 - Both obesity and underweight linked to excess deaths, new study finds

Among other things this states that
"Surprisingly, being overweight - defined as having a BMI between 25 and 30 - was actually linked to fewer excess deaths than being of normal weight."

Read about another, more recent European study some weeks ago, but couldn't locate that. There was more focus on body composition.
Just my 0.05 euros..

Juliette

It's common knowledge that both being underweight or obese pose health risks.
Have you read any information on health problems associated with being overweight by BMI standards but not obese? Is bodybuilding healthy or do some people trade one evil for another?

 

[bjhealth]

there was some news article i saw recently (and don't remember if it was in JAMA or one of the other medical publications or on CNN.com) but it listed the average BMI for various countries in europe vs those of the US - and italy ended up being the healthiest county with the US coming in dead last

there's an annual article that comes out every year about the healthiest and unhealthiest us cities...

BMI can not tell you for sure whether a person is healthy, neither can bf% but they both are statistical tools that are used to determine risk.

 

[Juliette1]

This doesn't say much in reality. It is more of a statistical survey rather than hard science about what fat does to the body. Trust me, being overweight is not healthy, and I know that is not what you are suggesting. I also am well aware of the fact that most skinny or even normal-weight people walking about the globe are far from healthy too.

I'll post a link to the recent study I mentioned if I manage to find it somewhere. It's a medical study on real people over a length of time. I don't want to cite it by memory, but one of the general points was that both the very low and the considerably high percentages of fat have their disadvantages.
So I think we agree here that it's about the health in general, not a single number.
Juliette

 

[Steve]

It's common knowledge that both being either underweight and obese pose health risks.
Have you read any information on health problems associated with being overweight by BMI standards but not obese? Is bodybuilding healthy or do some people trade one evil for another?

What do you mean by bodybuilding. BB has exploded into a huge lifestyle that *usually* consists of drugs. If that is the case, I would say most *bodybuilders* are more physique conscious than health conscious.

But if you are talking about people who lift weights, eat right, work their cardiovascular systems, etc.... people like me, I would put my health up against that of anyones with high confidence.

 

[Steve]

BMI can not tell you for sure whether a person is healthy, neither can bf% but they both are statistical tools that are used to determine risk.

BF% much more so than BMI, IMO.

By BMI standards, I am overweight.

 

[bjhealth]

What do you mean by bodybuilding. BB has exploded into a huge lifestyle that *usually* consists of drugs. If that is the case, I would say most *bodybuilders* are more physique conscious than health conscious.

But if you are talking about people who lift weights, eat right, work their cardiovascular systems, etc.... people like me, I would put my health up against that of anyones with high confidence.

I agree with you about BBs but I suspect that carrying the extra lean weight may also contribute to health problems and shorter life expectancy.

 

[Steve]

I agree with you about BBs but I suspect that carrying the extra lean weight may also contribute to health problems and shorter life expectancy.

Ahh, I doubt it. I carry extra weight due to my muscle mass.... but my health profile is spotless. Why would the weight impose a health risk in and of itself?

 

[bjhealth]

What do you mean by bodybuilding. BB has exploded into a huge lifestyle that *usually* consists of drugs. If that is the case, I would say most *bodybuilders* are more physique conscious than health conscious.

But if you are talking about people who lift weights, eat right, work their cardiovascular systems, etc.... people like me, I would put my health up against that of anyones with high confidence.

Not all bodybuilders use drugs and steroids. Some are very health conscious. I'm just posing a question and I'm not the first to ask if being overly muscular is detrimental. Most people I've heard from don't think that BMI is useful for determining risk because it does not consider BF%. I'd like some statistics to view but I'd guess that the extra weight is taxing. I think it is harmful to be excessively massive and lean but most likely not as harmful as obesity.

 

[bjhealth]

Ahh, I doubt it. I carry extra weight due to my muscle mass.... but my health profile is spotless. Why would the weight impose a health risk in and of itself?

Your metabolism needs to work overtime to carry and maintain the weight. This is taxing to your organs.

 

[Steve]

Not all bodybuilders use drugs and steroids. Some are very health conscious. I'm just posing a question and I'm not the first to ask if being overly muscular is detrimental. Most people I've heard from don't think that BMI is useful for determining risk because it does not consider BF%. I'd like some statistics to view but I'd guess that the extra weight is taxing. I think it is harmful to be excessively massive and lean but most likely not as harmful as obesity.

Well don't just state "I assume this." Back it up with why. Why do you think that carrying around extra weight in the form of muscle, when all other things are in check, such as diet and cardiovascular fitness, can be detrimental to your health?

Health in what aspect?

And you don't have to tell me that all bodybuilders don't use drugs. I have been in the biz for quite a while, relative to my age.