BMI - Beneficial or Archaic?
Body Mass Index (BMI) has been a piece of overall health (per medical professionals) since 1832. Relying on BMI as an indicator of health really took off in the 20th century as liability risk companies (ie life insurance) sought to describe populations. There are different schools of thought surrounding whether or not BMI is really an accurate assessment of wellness. This is a loaded question that I will unpack a little in this blog, but the short answer is, yes, it is a valid indicator of health for the average person.
Certain BMIs indicate greater risk for disease and chronic illnesses. As BMI rises, the risk for health problems also rises. BMI is more or less a study in health probability. People in the overweight range are at an increased risk for certain illnesses, but the higher the BMI, the higher that risk becomes.
There are certain things that can impact BMI accuracy:
Race and Ethnicity
Age
Weight Distribution
Muscle Mass
BMI is just one puzzle piece of total health. Other important parameters include:
Blood Pressure - An indicator of heart health and disease risk.
Blood Sugar - High blood sugar can determine diabetes risk.
Cholesterol - Too much LDL increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Heart Rate - A high resting heart rate increases the risk of heart attack and death.
Inflammation - Linked to numerous chronic illnesses and death.
Lean Muscle Mass vs Fat Mass - Higher percentages of lean muscle mass help protect against obesity related illnesses.
Waist Circumference - There is a higher risk of obesity related conditions if waist circumference is greater than 40 inches for men, and 35 inches for women. Some argue that a waist-to-height ratio would be a better indicator of obesity.
While BMI definitely has its flaws, for the average person it can be a helpful tool in determining likelihood of disease, and if you fit one of the exceptions, I would rely less on BMI as a health indicator.