In the nonathletic population, BMI is highly correlated with other measurements for obesity and represents a practical means to determine the presence of obesity. However, because of the muscular nature of most athletes, BMI is typically overlooked as a practical test for the sports medicine physician. The overweight BMI is defined as 27.7 or greater for men (13), which correlates with a body weight 20% above the desirable value. It was interesting to note that this standard was met by all but 2 position groups (defensive backs, quarterbacks/kickers) including 2 that were considered to be lean (offensive backs, linebackers) based on their skinfold percentage. Those individuals having a BMI of 30 to 35 are considered at moderate health risk, and those with a BMI of 35 to 40 are considered to be at high health risk (a BMI greater than 40 represents a very high health risk) (3). Based on these criteria, the linemen are at the high end of the moderate health risk category. In reviewing the skinfold data of this group, it is hard to represent this group as only overmuscular when accounting for their BMI. Indeed, they fit the criteria for being overfat as well. For a group as young as the linemen (average age 19 years), they can be considered as falling into the moderately high-risk category while approaching the high-risk category for weight-related medical problems. These data continue to support the inadequacy of BMI as a measurement of health risk in muscular populations. However, the initial usefulness of BMI as a screening device to identify potentially overweight individuals should not be ignored, particularly when BMI exceeds 30.