Two studies question the validity of the BMI in the assessment of health
Posted on 15 August 2008
Variously on this site I have written about evidence which suggests that the standard measure of weight
Published August 15, 2008 . Filed under: Uncategorized
My argument with BMI, and any other simplistic height/weight ratio analysis, has always been that it simply doesn’t measure body composition. Should a muscular person, who may well be categorised ‘obese’ by this criterion seek muscular wastage to fit in the so-called ‘healthy’ mould? Sadly, that’s what a number of sporting types (in sports ranging from rugby to martial arts and weight lifters) of my acqaintance have been told to do by medical professionals. Ridiculous!
August 15, 2008 @ 10:57 am
Thank goodness that there’s one lone voice in the wilderness actually talking some sense in the storm of health rubbish we see published daily. Of course, being overweight per se isn’t dangerous, millions of people who are overweight have died from natural causes at a good age. My sister has been overweight her entire life, she has low blood pressure and a regular heart beat. She hasn’t had a day off work for about 20 years. Of course, eating good food grown properly or raised properly doesn’t kill you – our ancestors have lived on this stuff for ever and flourished. It’s what we do to our bodies and our minds and what we do to our food that causes the problems and shoving more and more drugs into our bodies with more and more side effects is not the answer. Our food is grown/breed naturally on the earth and our bodies are made to move. We are designed to live in communities and share our lives. We are hard wired for a spiritual life and to grow and learn. If we remember these basic principles we are very likely to live long, happy, well, fulfilled lives. It’s really not that hard……
August 15, 2008 @ 12:01 pm
I’ve always said that BMI is just technobabble for the old height-weight tables. It’s really nothing new, just a fancy-sounding acronym for an outdated concept.
There are professional athletes who would be considered “obese” by BMI standards.
August 15, 2008 @ 4:17 pm
[...] As if you needed more proof that BMI measures are inaccurate, Dr. Briffa profiles two studies released this week showing you exactly why you shouldn
August 17, 2008 @ 5:40 pm