Team USA’s Ilona Maher isn’t ashamed of her weight or her BMI — even though some online trolls may want her to feel otherwise.
In a recent TikTok, the 27-year-old rugby center, who’s currently competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, replied to a commenter who wrote that she had a body mass index (BMI) of 30. Maher took it as an opportunity to educate her social media followers.
“I think you were trying to roast me, but this actually is a fact. I do have a BMI of 30 — well, 29.3 to be more exact,” Maher shared on TikTok. “I’ve been considered overweight my whole life.”
Ilona Maher reveals her weight and raises awareness about BMI
Maher went on to share that she weighs 200 pounds and is 5 feet, 10 inches tall, the two measurements used to calculate one’s body mess index.
A BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered in the overweight range, according to the Cleveland Clinic. A BMI of 30 and above is obese.
Over the years, Maher said she’s experienced shame from the “overweight” label, recalling how once in high school, she had to turn in medical paperwork that categorized her as such.
“I was so embarrassed to turn that in and have that written there,” Maher said. “My whole life, I’ve been this way.”
But Maher has since learned that her BMI isn’t an accurate reflection of her health or what she’s capable of.
That’s because BMI uses a person’s height and weight to estimate how much body fat one has — but it often isn’t accurate for people who have a lots of muscle, such as athletes, per the Cleveland Clinic.
In Maher’s case, she said she has “170 pounds of lean muscle mass.”
“I chatted with my dietitian because I go off of facts and not just what pops up (in my head) like you do,” she said, referring to the commenter. “We talked about how (BMI) really isn’t helpful for athletes.”
“BMI doesn’t really tell you what I can do. It doesn’t tell you what I do on the field, how fit I am,” Maher continued. “It’s just a couple numbers put together. It doesn’t tell you how much muscle I have or anything like that. So yeah, I do have a BMI of 30. I am considered overweight. But alas, I’m going to the Olympics and you’re not.”
Standing up for all body types
This isn’t the first time Maher addressed her body on social media. In January, she showed images of her thigh to normalize cellulite.
“I have cellulite everywhere,” she said in a TikTok. “It is completely normal, completely natural. It doesn’t take away from your athletic ability or how fast or how fit you are. It’s just something that’s part of your body. We all have it.”
At the start of the Paris Games, Maher shared another TikTok about celebrating different body types.
“As the Olympics officially start today, I want you all to take a look at the different body types on display. All body types matter, all body types are worthy, from the smallest gymnast to the tallest volleyball player, from a rugby player to a shot-putter to a sprinter,” she said. “All body types of people who can do amazing things, so truly see yourself in these athletes and know that you can do it, too.”
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