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Or drop BMI entirely, it is worth than worthless. It's misleading.

BMI is nothing more than a height to weight ratio, completely ignoring the fact that muscle weighs more than fat.

Most body builders you'll see in competition are classified as obese based on the BMI scale, despite the fact that they often carry less than 4% body fat.

BMI is only popular because it is a simple number with a simple scale that can be easily calculated and interpreted by simple people.

To continue that thought, you can review the body fat percentage scale very readily.

No... 17% is considered fit: http://www.healthchecksystems.com/bodyfat.htm

Sure, lifestyle choices probably play a large part but there exist a plethora of examples such as myself who live predominantly healthy lifestyles and just don't lose weight. But what you also need to realize is that in the US at least, there have been huge changes in diet in the last 30 years.

Yes.. more processed food, fried food, etc. I think your statement backs me up more than anything else. The American diet has gone to shit.

As far as your weight loss goes, find a certified personal trainer.

Just think of all the things we consume that weren't in common use 50 years ago. Dextrins, high fructose corn syrup, calcium propionate, glycerides, modified food starch, genetically modified plants and hormone injected cows which in turn dramatically increases our intake of antibiotics, growth hormones, pesticide residues, MSG.

Face it. The average diet today doesn't look much like it did 50 years ago. It wouldn't surprise me in the least that our diet changes also have caused large changes in our bacterial ecosystems.

SO... how is this refusing my claim that lifestyle (which includes diet, BTW), is the biggest influence? People are looking to blame everyone but themselves... but I changed my diet and exercise, and lost 80lbs (working with a trainer). I still take in some of that junk too. Its more a matter of calories than additives... I gained weight eating "clean" (on purpose, trying to build muscle). So I don't think that laundry list means as much as you make it out to... because plenty of people eat them still and are still fit.

It was towed there with this, of course.

I know you edited that sentence below, but you might consider nuking it from orbit, instead. It really is quite an awkward sentence.

I hate DDR (I also hate Guitar Hero and all other such games).

Any athletic ability you have is NOT due to DDR.

I wouldn't call 160 @ 5'11 skinny.
http://www.healthchecksystems.com/heightweightchart.htm
Check that out (women's chart on top, scroll down for a men's chart, which still assumes you're wearing 1" heels...)

You're 20. A whippersnapper. In a few years you'll start to see the effects of aging.
Brace yourself.

these have been around for insulin injections for years.. though not manufactored on a large scale.. here's a modern distributor, and here's an article about tests on pigs in sept of 2004 that went well.

And extra vitamins don't do any harm. See it as a bit of insurance.

Multivitamins != solution

Let me assure you: extra vitamins can be quite harmful. Ever heard of free radicals?

It's not so much that extra vitamins are harmful. It's that taking them separated from their natural environment is bad for you - you need other elements to be able to process the vitamins properly.

Best course of action: plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

-- Steve