3 Problems with BMI

There are not many people who’d disagree that:

BMI has its Problems!

While there is limited use for BMI in research, there is no valuable use for BMI in assigning or predicting health. Today we take a look at the problems with BMI and how you can improve health outside of the BMI scale.

Different types of fruit on a yellow background

BMI Doesn’t Distinguish Between Different Types of Body Mass

Fat, muscle, skeletal tissue and fluid weight are not distinguished by BMI. We know there are many things associated with good health that would make someone’s weight higher, muscle gain being a great example of this. Similarly, denser bone is associated with better health, but it also weighs more. According to BMI, many athletes are technically overweight or obese, despite being in good physical health.

BMI Wasn’t Designed For Use On Individuals

Group of people with different body shapes

BMI is calculated by dividing weight by height squared. Created by statistician Adolphe Quetelet in the 1830s, it was used as a way to measure the average weight of a population. Even Adolphe Quetelet himself said that it was not for use in individuals. He developed BMI on a group of white males - excluding women and all other ethnicities. We now have research to show that there are many different and unique underlying factors to an individual's health, including biological sex and ethnicity. As such, we need a more personalised approach to health assessment.

Focusing On BMI Ignores Behaviours

women working out with exercise ball in front of yellow background

The argument for using BMI is that it’s a quick, easy and inexpensive tool for assessing a modifiable risk factor. However, improving health starts with a better understanding of your body.

Most people assume BMI is the best way to measure health, however, BVI provides a better way to measure, track and improve your health. Unlike other technologies, you don’t need a wearable device to be able to monitor your health and understand your body composition, you just need a smart phone and an internet connection.

Learn more about BVI and our story here.