BMI, or body mass index, is a commonly used measurement by doctors. It takes height and weight to calculate a patient’s risk of illness. The problem with BMI is that it does not calculate what percentage of that weight is from fat.
Yes, it is a helpful indicator, but for many, it has become so easy to check online with a “BMI calculator” that people are using it as a replacement for proper medical care. Having a healthy weight does not mean that one’s diet and fat percentage is where it should be. BMI may seem like an easy way to assess yourself, but it leaves too many questions unanswered.
Illnesses, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes, certain cancers, sleep apnea, kidney disease and more, can occur if your body has a high fat percentage. Judging from BMI alone can be very misleading. Without taking muscle mass into account, a person who judges their health based on their weight could end up making unhealthy decisions.
When I was a young student athlete, I was lean with a significant amount of muscle weight. I was told by my doctor that I weighed a little more than normal for my height. One pound of fat and one pound of lean muscle weigh the same. My practitioner was asking me to watch what I eat when I was a perfectly healthy adolescent eating balanced and proportionate meals and exercising regularly.
While BMI may be an indicator for someone to use at home, it can never be used as a replacement to asking your doctors about weight-related questions. In an age of Fitbits and self-health, too many people are susceptible to tracking their own calories, sleep patterns and BMIs and thinking they are qualified to watch their own health based off what an app tells them.
In a time of ever-improving technology, it is important to remember that your watch or your phone cannot take the place of a trained medical professional. BMIs, Fitbits and phone apps are meant to be used as indicators and resources to better understand your health and meet personal goals, not as a replacement for regular check-ups and advice from your doctor.
As for the doctors and health professionals who take BMI as the end-all, maybe you should reevaluate your career. The human body is far too complex for all weigh-related health concern risks to be determined by an online calculator. Patients should feel comfortable getting a second opinion and, if necessary, a new doctor.
Photo by Maria Pericozzi | The Oswegonian
