Just Over 18
by Blake Linton Wilfong -- The Wondersmith!
We have already considered evidence that Body Mass Index (BMIs) toward the lower end of the U.S. federal government's recommended range are at least as healthy as those in the middle or upper part--perhaps more so. And even the conservative NIH specifies the lowest ideal BMI to be 18.5. Thus there is no need to further justify the BMIs of the Playboy Playmates in the range of 18.5 to 18.9. Most doctors and scientists (not to mention Playboy readers) would readily agree that these women are in superb physical condition.
18.9 Janis Schmitt Feb 78
Kymberly Herrin Mar 81
Cynthia Brown May 95
Angel Boris Jul 96
Kimberly Spicer Jun 99
Nicole Narain Jan 02
18.8 Linda Rhys Vaughn Apr 82
Alana Soares Mar 83
Susie Owens Mar 88
Mirjam van Breeschooten Sep 89
Jenny McCarthy Oct 93, Jun 94
Donna Perry Nov 94
Lisa Marie Scott Feb 95
Lynn Thomas May 97
Laura Lee Cover Oct 98
Tishara Lee Cousino May 99
Cara Wakelin Nov 99
18.7 Henriette Allais Mar 80
Cynthia Brimhall Oct 85
Tylyn John Mar 92
Becky DelosSantos Apr 94
Stacy Sanches Mar 95, Jun 96
Victoria Alynette Fuller Jan 96
Inga Drozdova Nov 97
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18.6 Louann Fernald Jun 79
Kelly Ann Tough Oct 81
Lynda Wiesmeier Jul 82
Kimberly Evenson Sep 84
Laura Richmond Sep 88
Kata Karkkainen Dec 88
Corinna Harney Aug 91, Jun 92
Angela Melini Jun 92
Holly Witt Nov 95
Gillian Bonner Apr 96
Jodi Ann Paterson Oct 99
Jennifer Walcott Aug 01
Dalene Kurtis Sep 01
18.5 Rosanne Katon Sep 78
Dorothy Mays Jul 79
Heidi Sorenson Jul 81
Marlene Janssen Nov 82
Lonny Chin Jan 83
Dona Speir Mar 84
Karen Velez Dec 84, May 85
Carol Ficatier Dec 85
Anna Clark Apr 87
Gwendolyn Hajek Sep 87
Diana Lee May 88
Cady Cantrell Apr 92
Leisa Sheridan Jul 93
Ulrika Ericsson Nov 96
Daphnee Lynn Duplaix Jul 97 (pictured)
Julia Schultz Feb 98
Marliece Andrada Mar 98
Crista Nicole May 01
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We now proceed into more controversial territory: BMIs below the conventionally recommended minimum of 18.5. There is increasing scientific evidence that such BMIs may be even healthier than the higher ones we have examined. One of the most famous large-scale BMI studies, "Body Weight and Mortality Among Women", published in the September 14th, 1995 New England Journal of Medicine, followed 115,195 women nurses, ages 30-55, believed to be free of cardiovascular disease and cancer at the outset, from 1976 to 1992. When smokers were factored out, the least risk of mortality was found in the group whose BMIs were less than 19.0. Other studies have confirmed that when smokers and persons with preexisting illnesses are screened out, lower BMIs are found to be optimal.
Why? It takes tremendous determination and effort to voluntarily reach a BMI below 18.5, and only a small percentage of the general population has done so. The results of mortality studies at low BMIs are distorted by the poor longevity of smokers (whose habit results in artificially reduced BMIs), victims of preexisting illnesses that cause weight loss (e.g., cancer, AIDS), users of illegal drugs (e.g., amphetamines), and people suffering from eating disorders (which result in malnutrition). Screen these out, and the "perfect" BMI for maximum longevity is probably less than 18.5--perhaps much less.
Fortunately, Playboy's selection process offers effective screening; women in poor health
tend to be neither attractive enough to be gatefold girls, nor energetic enough to fit the
successful, vivacious Playmate profile. So Playmates with BMIs in the range 18.0 to 18.4
not only look terrific, but really are extraordinarily healthy. Let's see who they are.
18.4 Lee Ann Michelle Feb 79
Denise McConnell Mar 79
Debbie Boostrom Aug 81
Shannon Tweed Nov 81, Jun 82
Pia Reyes Nov 88
Tanya Beyer Feb 92
Ashley Allen Aug 92
Kona Carmack Feb 96
Carrie Stevens Jun 97
Brooke Richards Dec 99
18.3 Vicki Witt Aug 78
Monique St. Pierre Nov 78, Jun 79
Liz Glazowski Apr 80
Pamela Annette Saunders Nov 85
Sharry Konopski Aug 87
Jennifer Jackson Apr 89
Julie Ann Clarke Mar 91
Anna-Marie Goddard Jan 94
Elan Carter Jun 94
Donna D'Errico Sep 95
Vanessa Gleason Sep 98
Jaime Bergman Jan 99
Brande Nicole Roderick Apr 2000
18.2 Ashley Cox Dec 77
Debra Jensen Jan 78
Janet Quist Dec 78
Dorothy Stratten Aug 79, Jun 80
Vicki Lynn Lasseter Feb 81
Lorraine Michaels Apr 81
Susan M. Smith Sep 81
Liz Stewart Jul 84
Donna Edmondson Nov 86, Jun 87
Kymberly Paige May 87
Petra Verkaik Dec 89
Melissa Evridge Aug 90
Carrie Jean Yazel May 91
Karin Taylor Jun 96
Jennifer Allan Sep 96
Kimber West Feb 97
Jennifer Rovero Jul 99
Lindsey Vuolo Nov 01
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18.1 Julia Lyndon Aug 77
Victoria Cooke Aug 80
Lourdes Estores Jun 82
Renee Tenison Nov 89, Jun 90
Lorraine Olivia Nov 90
Wendy Kaye Jul 91
Arlene Baxter Dec 93
Traci Adell Jul 94
Deanna Brooks May 98
Shannon Stewart Jun 00
18.0 Michelle Drake May 79
Lisa Welch Sep 80
Connie Brighton Sep 82
Christina Ferguson Apr 83
Susie Scott May 83
Ruth Guerri Jul 83
Tracy Vaccaro Oct 83
Lesa Ann Pedriana Apr 84
Kathy Shower May 85, Jun 86
Julie McCullough Feb 86
Carmen Berg Jul 87
Kimberley Conrad Jan 88, Jun 89
Erika Eleniak Jul 89
Karen Foster Oct 89
Peggy McIntaggart Jan 90
Kerri Kendall Sep 90
Stacy Leigh Arthur Jan 91
Morena Corwin Sep 92
Carrie Westcott Sep 93
Shae Marks May 94
Lisa Dergan Jul 98
Tiffany Taylor Nov 98 (pictured)
Suzanne Stokes Feb 00
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Summing up, if there can be said to be a "typical" BMI for Playboy Playmates, it is
"just over 18". The models who weigh in at this level project a well-rounded, wholesome,
healthy, sexy image that all men should find desirable and all of us--men and women
alike--should strive to emulate. Want to see more of these women who strike the
perfect balance between curvaceous femininity and streamlined longevity? You'll find
bevies of them in Playboy magazines, newsstand specials, DVDs, and VHS videos!
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