Body mass index (BMI) is one of the most popular ways to measure body composition as it pertains to health. However, research indicates BMI is not the most accurate measure of health and can have serious limitations in weight distribution, body fat percentage, and different demographics.
What is BMI?
BMI, or body mass index, is a calculation that estimates a person’s body fat by dividing their weight in kilograms by their height in meters squared (BMI = kg/m2).
- The results are broken down into four categories: Underweight ( < 18.5 kg), Normal, Overweight, Obese and Obese (> 30).
Insider’s Takeaway
In order to more accurately understand your health, metabolic factors like blood pressure and waist circumference can better predict your overall risk for certain health conditions.
- If you are concerned about BMI or your weight, it’s perfectly normal and safe to consult your doctor or a medical professional to better understand what is personally healthy for you and your body.
No, BMI is not always an accurate measure of health
BMI may be a quick, affordable, and easily accessible way to screen for a person’s health, the formula is better suited for information about general populations.
- Several other factors to consider that BMI does not take into account:
- Body fat percentage (BFP) is the percent of your body that is fat tissue compared to your total body mass. It is normally measured with skinfold calipers, bioelectrical impedance, or most accurately through a DXA X-ray Scan
- One of the main issues with BMI is that it cannot account for the difference between muscle and fat. Because muscle tissue is more dense than fat, many athletes and bodybuilders are considered overweight despite being in peak athletic health.
What are more accurate predictors of health?
The five metabolic risk factors
- Waist circumference
- High blood cholesterol
- Elevated triglycerides
- A type of fat found in your blood, which can be elevated when you eat more calories than you burn
- High blood pressure
- 140/90mmHg. High blood sugar
- 125 mg/dL
