The True Benefit of the BMI
The BMI has one purpose and one purpose only: It is an intelligence test. If you think the BMI means anything then you need to get your intelligence checked. It is even useless as a statistical measure as it doesn’t account for the fact that statistically speaking most people have a longer wingspan than height.
There are tons of easy adjustments to be made to the BMI to make it more valid. You could make the formula Weight/((Height+Wingspan)/2)^2. The BMI simply does not take into account the differences amongst bone size within individuals.
How does something with sparse statistical relevancy and little usage as a diagnostic tool for bodyfat percentage in individuals become so popular? Laziness. The doctors like to send you in and out. The fastest way to do that is to ask for your height and weight and do a quick calculation. Their is reason for them to do an accurate bodyfat assessment. I mean seriously, using your eyes is more accurate than the BMI.
If your doctor tells you your BMI is too then tell him you plan to fix it by increasing your height. Rattle off some Height Increase Methods. He won’t be able to refute all of them, I doubt he’ll even try.