The b m i isn't, like, officially a justification for eugenics. The other context in which it's gaining more notice is through insurance companies,. So still within his lifetime, the first american life insurance company creates height and weight tables for the purposes of charging fat policy holders. This idea of like, aqoq, normalized body sto be used for corporate profit will be a through line in this story.
The BMI is EVERYWHERE. But is it scientific or scientif-ish? While many Americans think of the body mass index as an objective measure of health, its history reveals a more complicated story. This week, Mike and Aubrey tackle the first in a two-part series about the BMI and the “Obesity Epidemic.” Along the way they visit 18th century Belgium, learn a gross new acronym and dissect Dracula's facial features.
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