BMI ‘Is Not a Measurement of Health’: Here Are Better Alternatives, Say Experts

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As the debate surrounding body composition measurements intensifies, health care professionals and researchers question the reliability of body mass index (BMI) as an indicator of health. While BMI has been widely used for more than a century, critics argue that it fails to consider variations in body composition, leading to potential misinterpretations.

As alternatives such as the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) gain traction, experts discuss the need for a comprehensive approach incorporating multiple health markers for a more accurate assessment of overall well-being.

BMI’s Biggest Shortcomings

The BMI assessment was initially developed to evaluate the health of large populations, offering a broad perspective on the overall fitness of society. In this context, the BMI assessment generally provides accurate results. However, when applied to individuals, as is now standard practice, it falls short of providing a comprehensive picture of a person’s health status.