David Carmichael

David Carmichael has worked in sport and exercise science for over 10 years. After graduating from the University of Bath with a distinction in his MSc, he joined the English Institute of Sport (EIS) as a performance scientist, supporting Olympic and Paralympic athletes across multiple disciplines.

David Carmichael is a BASES-accredited sport and exercise scientist with a unique perspective on body composition metrics. His career has taken him from elite sport — supporting Team GB athletes at the English Institute of Sport — to public health, where he now focuses on making body composition science accessible to everyone.

David's MSc research at the University of Bath examined the discrepancy between BMI classifications and DEXA-measured body fat percentage in elite rugby union players. His findings demonstrated that 78% of professional forwards were classified as 'obese' by BMI despite having body fat percentages below 18% — a striking illustration of BMI's limitations in muscular populations.

After five years with the EIS, David moved into the private sector, establishing a body composition testing clinic in Bristol. He now provides DEXA scans, bioelectrical impedance analysis, and anthropometric assessments to both athletes and members of the public seeking a more detailed picture of their health than BMI alone can provide.

David serves as the scientific reviewer for BMI Calculator UK, ensuring that the calculator's limitations are honestly presented and that guidance around muscle mass, athletic populations, and ethnic variations is accurate and up to date. He is a regular contributor to the British Journal of Sports Medicine blog and speaks at UK Active conferences.