Nature Podcast
Audio long read: Why BMI is flawed — and how to redefine obesity
Oct 30, 2023
This podcast discusses the limitations of BMI as a measure of obesity. Scientists are calling for alternative metrics that consider age, sex, and race. The history and flaws of BMI are explored, highlighting the lack of correlation between BMI and mortality risk. The importance of considering factors other than weight in assessing health outcomes is emphasized. Challenges of using BMI as a diagnostic tool and efforts to redefine obesity are discussed. The introduction of EOSS as a more comprehensive measure of obesity is explored, taking into account physical, mental, and functional health.
11:56
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Quick takeaways
- BMI does not measure body fat and overlooks factors such as age, sex, and race that affect a person's health at a given weight.
- Different populations have varying body compositions and fat distributions, leading to the need for additional metrics alongside BMI to assess obesity more comprehensively.
Deep dives
The flaws of BMI as a measure of obesity
BMI, or Body Mass Index, has been used for decades as an international standard to determine healthy weights. However, it does not measure body fat and overlooks factors such as age, sex, and race that affect a person's health at a given weight. Studies have shown that individuals with similar BMI values can have different levels of body fat, and being in the overweight category does not necessarily indicate higher health risks. BMI's simplicity and cost-effectiveness have kept it prominent, but experts argue that it should be used as a screening tool rather than a sole diagnostic tool.
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