This chapter explores the limitations of BMI as a measure of obesity and the movement towards using alternative metrics that consider age, sex, and race. Despite this shift, the demand for weight loss drugs continues to heavily rely on BMI as the primary criterion for obesity treatment.
For decades, BMI — calculated by dividing weight by height squared — has been as an international standard to determine healthy weights.
However, BMI does not measure body fat, and ignores many other factors that can affect how healthy someone it.
Now, a small but growing movement of reseachers and clinicians are calling for other metrics to be used in conjunction with BMI when diagnosing and treating obesity.
This is an audio version of our Feature: Why BMI is flawed — and how to redefine obesity
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