Of course you have to take the BMI with a grain of salt. Athletes often have high BMI and low body fat.
BUT!
Every fat guy out there cites the football player's BMI and counts themselves in the same population. Rrrrrright. If you are in doubt, look at yourself in the mirror or if you are still in denial, get your body fat checked. People are getting fatter and fatter and it is becoming the new normal. Especially guys are in denial and I can see marketing companies adjust to it already. Have a look at an outdoors magazine for example. A commercial for a new ATV, shotgun etc.? Fat guy in it ...
I used to buy XL shirts, now I have gone to L, soon it will be M, I am not kidding. Especially hunting clothing, it is hilarious what counts as an XL these days.
If BMI data says that over 1/3 of the people in Mississippi are obese, you can assume that most of them are not athletes. Travel there if you are in doubt.
Or change planes in Atlanta.
One thing that is concerning is if you are an athlete and your health insurance sets premiums by your BMI. I am sure you can find a better insurance that will allow a body fat measurement to achieve a reading.
G