Redefining Obesity: Beyond BMI, Adding Body Fat and Health Status
A new report suggests a significant overhaul to how we define obesity, moving beyond the limitations of the Body Mass Index (BMI). The core proposal is to incorporate both body fat percentage and overall health status alongside BMI to create a more comprehensive and accurate assessment of an individual’s health. This shift is driven by a growing recognition that BMI, while readily accessible and inexpensive, often provides an incomplete picture.
The simplicity of BMI—a calculation based solely on height and weight—is undeniable. Its ease of measurement and broad applicability make it an attractive tool for population-level studies and initial screenings. However, the inherent limitations of only considering height and weight become apparent when considering the variations in body composition.… Continue reading
Matt Underwood