BMI

X2, Tri d00d. 

BMI is taking considerable flak these days, and I think rightly so.  I'm about the same height as you, and the BMI "healthy zone" is insane.  A while back I had a couple of different body fat tests done , and they estimated my lean mass at 165-170 (somewhere in there, don't remember the exact number)... yet, the "healthy" part of the BMI scale for my height starts at what, 135?  I suppose I could chop an arm and a leg off to fit better on the chart?

There's supposedly movement to adopt waist circumference as a better measurement of fitness--which makes sense.

I am in the exact same situation. I just took one of those tests at the supermarket that does Blood Pressure, weight, BMI. Granted I am a little heavy right now but it came back obese. Blood pressure was grea, resting heart rate was that of a elite level athlete (which I am not) but OBESE

BMI has two categories beyond healthy.  Overweight and Obese.  Overweight is just outside of the healthy range, while Obese is a good bit past that.

 I also weight about 205 and am 6'-0", my BMI rating is Overweight...not Obese.

For my height to get in the normal range (normal body type, not a body builder), it says I would have to weight under 185.  I think this is extremely reasonable, and probably pretty correct.

Its accuracy varies too drastically, and that's the problem. I've read more and more that there's pressure to move to the hips to waist ratio (or is it waist to hips?), since that gives a better indication of fitness.

In my case, my "healthy weight" according to the BMI charts (I'm 5'9) tops out around 162, with 169 as the start of the Overweight section... problem is, couple different forms of testing were both pretty close in estimating my lean body mass at around 175ish... The guy doing the testing laughed and said "Well, I guess they want you to chop off a leg or something."

As for it being a population statistic... it's used extensively by health insurance companies and MANY doctors. Thankfully, my latest doctor isn't a fan of the chart--he suggested I shoot for the 180s and see how I look and feel there, and maybe get another round of BF testing at that time.

Many Doctors use it as a way of producing statistics (not always for advising patients)...especially for research purposes it is a way of looking at a population of people without having to do extensive other testing...in fact you don't even need to have the person in front of you...they could be dead or in Antartica or anywhere all you need is their height and their weight.  Is it perfect?...No  Does it have a place in looking at the correlation between size and various health problems or practices..probably yes.  Will it work for everyone?...No, that is why we all should have a relationship with our doctor and discuss weight and other health issues.  As for insurance companies well...there is nothing I can say that is nice about them and what they can use against you so I won't say anything at all. 

I find BMI somewhat amusing. What it recommends I weigh for my height is almost the same as my lean body mass is..so that would mean I'd be like 2% body fat...obviously that wouldn't be healthy for me.

I think what Derek and others have chimed in with that is a general tool for group that shouldn't be used on an individual level.  Yet I know folks that have gone to their doc who has shared with them their BMI.