Not Ronnie Coleman or Arnold Schwarzenegger, but a 3x Mr. Olympia Had a BMI Close to That of an Average American Man

Bodybuilders have massive bodies, thick muscles, and immaculate shapes. But are they healthy? A rough estimate can be made through the BMI (Body Mass Index) of the bodybuilders. Although the muscle mass in the case of the bodybuilding athletes will be high, so it couldn’t be the only criterion to consider. However, let’s consider BMI and see if the bodybuilders have a healthy weight or not.

The BMI works by taking the height and weight of the person into account. Moreover, the BMI results of the legendary bodybuilders may astonish you. The athletes we look up to for their exceptional physique are actually not fit according to their BMI.

What does the BMI result reveal about the bodybuilding legends?

Body Mass Index is calculated by using this formula. [(lbs / inches  x 703]. As height and weight both matter in this matter, the average height of Mr. Olympia’s winner is 5’7″. A person is considered obese if his/her BMI cross 30 and overweight between 25-29. To the surprise, 3X Mr. Olympia title holder Frank Zane is the only Mr. Olympia winner to have the closest BMI to an average American man.

In 2022, the average BMI of American men stands at 29.1. That categorizes the average male population at the higher end of being overweight. However, in contrast to the average American men’s BMI, Frank Zane had a BMI of less than 29.1. He had just a BMI of around 28.8 at his peak.

READ MORE- “I Wrecked It”: 8x Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman Once Revealed How a Bad Instinctive Judgment Became the Biggest Regret of His Life

On the other hand, bodybuilding legends like Ronnie Coleman, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jay Cutler, Dorian Yates, and others came under the obese categorization. To their support, the muscle mass of the bodybuilders makes them heavy in comparison to an average person. Henceforth, they can’t be called healthy based on just this reference.

Is BMI the only factor that makes them unhealthy?

BMI is not a definite reference, as it does not take all factors into account. However, the administration of anabolic steroids came into existence in the 60s. After that, the bodybuilders used these steroids to enhance their muscles and inhibited natural muscle building. The steroids were used to get themselves better than everyone else. 

However, in 2003, the IFBB decided to once again make steroid free and adopted the World anti-doping code. This will definitely reduce the risk of the athletes getting any internal damage to their vital organs and more naturally built. 

Watch this story: Ronnie Coleman Delivered His Top 10 Lineups for Mr. Olympia 2022

Indeed, the legends made their physique with utmost dedication and hours in the gym. They gave a big part of their lives to build their indestructible fitness. However, the use of steroids during their bodybuilding career could have had effects on their body. Frank Zane was the only Mr. Olympia title holder with a BMI of less than 30, whereas Ronnie Coleman was the one with the highest BMI amongst the winners.