BMI stands for "body mass index." It was developed by a Belgian mathematician named Lambert Adolphe Jacques Quetelet in 1832.
It was developed to quickly figure out obesity in people and to aid governments in deciding where to allocate health funds and financial resources.
Based on a mathematical formula, the BMI scale calculates whether an individual is at a healthy weight or not.
The formula to calculate your BMI is
BMI = weight (kg) / height (m2)
You can also check your BMI online with a BMI calculator.
Once you get your BMI, it is recommended to check it with the BMI scale to determine whether you fall within the “normal” weight range.
Healthcare providers often use BMI calculations to recommend diet and lifestyle changes for those who are overweight or underweight. However, the question arises: Is BMI a fair health indicator?
Is BMI a fair health indicator?
Although BMI helps you to determine whether you are obese or not, it is not a fair indicator of your health. People with an ideal weight range can have a risk of chronic diseases.
Studies suggest that having a BMI lower than 18.5 (underweight) or 30.0 or greater (obese) does not necessarily increase the risk of chronic disease and premature death.
After conducting several studies, most research shows an increased chronic disease risk among people who have obesity. Many health professionals rely on BMI to figure out risks.
Why BMI May Not Be a Fair Indicator?
BMI only determines whether you’re overweight or not, without any context of your age, sex, genetics, lifestyle, medical history, or other factors.
A person’s health does not only depend on BMI, but other factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and heart conditions also define a person’s true health.
As people age, it's natural to lose muscle mass and fat mass increases.
It is a fact that men have more muscle mass and less fat mass as compared to women. Despite these differences in parameters, BMI uses the same calculation.
BMI doesn’t consider fat distribution. The location of fat on the body may be different from person to person. People with higher fat in the stomach area have a greater risk of chronic disease than those with fat stored in their hips, buttocks, and thighs.
Conclusion
BMI as a health parameter remains debatable. While it serves as a baseline, it should not be the sole indicator of health. Other factors such as blood pressure, heart rate, and cholesterol are equally crucial in assessing overall health. Therefore, while BMI is a useful tool, it is not the only measure of one's health.
