BMI Is Not An Indication Of Your Perfect Health Here's why
- What is BMI?
- How to calculate your BMI
- Is BMI Really Important
- Why BMI Controversy
- Accurate Health Indicators to Pay Attention
- Takeaway
BMI, or body weight index, is a hot topic. It is used to classify people into categories according to their weight and height, and determines their diagnosis, treatment and care. It is a balanced approach to health that does not make sense to many body types.
Developed by a mathematician named Adolphe Quetelet some 200 years ago, this method of assessing obesity and obesity in white males was not intended to be used as it is today. So is there any value in determining or using BMI as a health indicator? To find out, we interviewed Tom Kearn, a physiotherapist and sports therapist, and a registered dietitian Suzanne Kalmbach.
What is BMI?
"BMI is a formula that uses the patient's height and weight to differentiate between different health categories: low weight, healthy weight, obesity, obesity when each category is associated with health risks," Kearn explains.
The numerical range determines these categories:
- Low weight: under 18.5
- Healthy weight: 18.5 to 25
- Obesity: 25 to 30
- Obesity: over 30
Some charts call the list of healthy weight a normal weight, while others include the obesity category starting at 40 BMI.
How to calculate your BMI
To calculate your BMI, use the formula: BMI = kg / m2.
Kg is your weight in kilograms, and m2 is your height in square meters. There are also many calculators that will do the math for you, such as the one from the National Heart, Lung, and the Blood Institute, which allows you to enter your data in standard or metrics.
Is BMI Really Important
“BMI determines a person's weight by his or her height, regardless of muscle or body fat. Obesity can contribute to common ailments, but it is part of the paradox, ”says Kalmbach. Other factors to consider include diet, exercise, genetic predisposition, stress levels, and the like, which can have a profound effect on overall health.
Several groups of people should not use BMI, as they fail to represent their health more accurately. These include:
- Athletic people and muscles
- Long distance athletes
- Anyone who is pregnant
- Older adults
- Children
“BMI is one of the many things you should consider when monitoring your whole life. But it helps to know your BMI so that you can be aware of various health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular problems, and high blood pressure that can occur in the future if a person is overweight or obese, ”said Kearn.
Your BMI test should not be the only thing to consider when deciding on your health, but it can point you in the right direction to better understand where your health is and where it needs to be.
Why BMI Controversy
"BMI is not an accurate representation of health because it measures weight and weight and does not take into account the type of weight a person may have, such as muscle compared to fat," Kearn explains.
As a result, a runner or a muscle person may be considered overweight or obese, when in fact he or she is in excellent physical condition. If this is the case for you, BMI is a useless metaphor that you can ignore.
“This could clearly be a misrepresentation of a condition that appears to be 'unhealthy; so it doesn't really matter, ”added Kearn.
Adding to the controversy, your BMI could get in the way of getting care or qualifying for insurance, says Kalmbach. It can also cause feelings of unauthorized physical embarrassment.
“Focusing on BMI alone can be dangerous, as it is a single measure of health. "People may be very concerned about their BMI level, which leads some to become more involved in creating weight loss diets and not focus on their whole life," explains Kalmbach.
And here's the real kicker: Some people have been denied access to nutrition or fertility care because of BMI — a metaphor that was never intended to be used to track individual health, let alone for women or people of color.
Many dietary disorders, including those that are more common, overeating, do not lead to lower BMI. In fact, binge eating disorders are three times more common than anorexia and bulimia combined, and they can cause serious physical and mental health problems if left untreated.1
And when it comes to competition outside of Caucasia, for which it was designed, BMI can be particularly flawed.
Accurate Health Indicators to Pay Attention
The best indicator of overall health is the percentage of body fat, according to Kearn and Kalmbach, which includes:
- Average height and length
- Body fat ratio
- Stress levels
- Blood pressure
- Cholesterol levels
- Glucose Level (Blood Sugar)
"Vo2 max and resting body level are also good indicators of health, but they are expensive and not readily available," adds Kearn. Vo2 max can measure your exercise ability, including your oxygen intake and your endurance level.2
At the bottom of the list? Body weight. "Weight loss is important, but weight loss does not guarantee health," Kalmbach said.
Takeaway
When it comes to the overall picture of health, BMI lacks clarity and precision. Even if BMI methods are tailored to race, gender, and age, they will still give a little idea of what life really is. Remember that good health decisions are different for everyone, and there are better ways to track your overall health. The number on the BMI chart, or scale, is the smallest tool in the health metrics toolbox. If you are concerned about your weight or other aspects of your physical or mental health, talk to your doctor.