Did anyone else think the chinese gymnast did not look at least 16 years of age?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But what criteria determines what is average BMI? You think they make up the ranges out of a hat?

But with BMI (at least for kids), "healthy" is something like 5th to 85th percentile. It's a HUGE range.

[Anonymous]

But what criteria determines what is average BMI? You think they make up the ranges out of a hat?

There isn't an "average" BMI, whatever that means. There are standard weight status categories (underweight, normal, overweight, obese) based on the results of the mathematical calculation. The results aren't calculated relative to the median weight of other people in the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Just out of curiosity, I put the vital statistics - 16 years old, 4'7" tall, 68 pounds- of Deng Linlin (the aforementioned Chinese gymnast) into the CDC's body mass calculator for teens. This are the results they gave me:

"Based on the height and weight entered, the BMI is 15.8, placing the BMI-for-age below the 1st percentile for girls aged 16 years. This teen is underweight and should be seen by a healthcare provider for further assessment to determine possible causes of underweight."

Please don't make the argument that you liked the Chinese gymnasts better because they are healthier. And please don't lecture us on health issues if you have no problem with a 68 pound 16 year old. At that point it becomes some very weird body distortion issue on your part.

This is kind of a silly argument, isn't it? Because none of us believe this girl is actually 16.

A BMI of 15.8 is only SLIGHTLY below weight for a 14 year old (16.1 is the cutoff for the normal range), and WITHIN the normal range for a 12 year old (which I suspect is what she is).

I thought the Chinese girls were beautiful and healthy pre-teens and teens (putting aside the issue of gymnastics). I thought the American women were lovely and healthy young ladies.

Aren't CDC statistics based on "Americans" ie - the average height and weight of Americans - not (the stereotypic) shorter, nimble, petite Chinese? To me, that is a little like comparing apples and oranges...not condoning the possibility of being underage, but comparing a 16 year old Chinese gal to a 16 year old American gal is not quite the same

[Anonymous]

Aren't CDC statistics based on "Americans" ie - the average height and weight of Americans - not (the stereotypic) shorter, nimble, petite Chinese? To me, that is a little like comparing apples and oranges...not condoning the possibility of being underage, but comparing a 16 year old Chinese gal to a 16 year old American gal is not quite the same

But the BMI isn't statistical.

For example, suppose there is a nation of 10 people, and through the various combinations of height/weight, all 10 people are assessed with a BMI of 28. All ten people still fall in the "overweight" category. It's not like they move into the "normal weight" category just because everyone else is also there.

[Anonymous]

I am a chinese. I am 37 and my son 5. he is a big boy. there is one time in a public place one lady talk to my son and referred me as his sister.
in our chinese circle, we always say to estimate an american female's age, you minus 10 years of what you think and for a chinese femal's age, you plus 10 years of what you think.
chinse girl's bodies tend to be skiny. we have friends we used to think they are overweight. after we come to USA. we think they would be ranked among nomal.

[Anonymous]

The issue isn't whether chinese females "look" older. Sure, we caucasian women look like hags before our Chinese sisters. Fine. Congratulations, even.

But these Chinese gymnasts have the unmistakeable characteristics of young children and guess what, Chinese govt news agencies have their ages listed correctly (before the games) and those ages are not what are on the gymnasts' falsified documents. I cannot believe that China has been allowed to cheat and no one seems to care. The US and other countries have gymnasts that are great -- but too young -- and they're at home. To me, it's unbelievable.

[Anonymous]

The earlier statement about gymnastics being harmful to these girls bodies is interesting. I thought that football hurts many boys each year, but we don't get alarmed.
Also, the 14 year olds ARE doing full twisting double back flips in workouts. So whether you do it at the Olympics or in your gym makes no difference. If you really wanted t protect these kids from harm, you shouldn't even allow them to practice these moves at all. As a matter of fact, why not stop the boys from playing football before 16.

Realistically all sports are dangerous. You can't protect a child forever.