Bodyweight Coefficients DON’T MATTER

In strength sports like powerlifting and weightlifting, bodyweight coefficients are used to compare lifters of different weight classes to each other. Bodyweight coefficients are mathmatical formulas which allow inputs of weight lifted, bodyweight of the lifter, and sometimes age, to create a point system for comparison between lifters. If you go to https://www.openpowerlifting.org/ you’ll see lifters ranked based on the DOTs coefficient. You’ll also discover that lifters can be ranked by many different coefficients. These formulas are used to break ties between lifters in the same weight class as well as a means to determine a meet winner between lifters of different weight classes. Determining an overall winner based on a formula is where the controversy begins.

There are many in the powerlifting community who believe the strongest person has the best formula. However, I believe, they’re wrong.

Here’s why:

  1. Powerlifting is about finding the strongest person. This means the person with the highest total is the strongest, and therefore, should be the winner.
  2. Weightclasses already account for differences in body size. We all know the biggest person is usually also the strongest. We can say there are people who are the strongest for their respective class, but also the strongest overall if they have the highest total. See #1
  3. Using a formula to find the strongest isn’t consistent between formulas. Depending on the formula used, ranking changes. If formulas found the strongest, there should be no change between formulas. The perfect formula doesn’t yet exist. Weight doesn’t change, creating a more consistent ranking structure compared to current formulas.
  4. Meets determining the winner based on a formula create an unfair competitive environment. Formulas typically favor lifters at extreme ends of the bodyweight spectrum e.g. lightest and heaviest individuals. Lifters in the middleweight classes are immediately at a competitive disadvantage. There have been many formulas to come out in the last couple of years, most of which take the advantage away from the heaviest individuals and favor the lightest. Absolute weight lifted does not favor one lifter over another.

For these sports to stay consistent, total over formula needs to be the means by which the strongest is determined. Comparing lifters to others in different weight classes via formula is not as objective as using absolute weight lifted. Therefore, there can only be winners in a given weight class and/or someone who lifted the most weight overall. Formula should only be used to compare lifters within their weight class to break a tie. Lifting the most weight also makes them the strongest, which is why bodyweight coefficients don’t matter.