BMI flawed? DUH!
Posted on November 2nd, 2006 by On a Limb w/ Claudia
I hate the BMI. Here’s why - the more fit you become, the higher your BMI. There is no link between a high BMI and long term health risks. None. Yet lazy doctors and insurance companies go strictly by the BMI - it’s ridiculous.
The Cooper Institute (the folks that brought you the 10,000 step studies and more) insist that it’s the lack of fitness, not fatness that leads to long term health risks. But who listens?
Julie Deardorff from the Chicago Tribune writes this article stating that the BMI is “seriously flawed”. Make a copy of it and bring it with you the next time you see your doctor. Maybe he or she will learn something.
Filed under: Resources - check it out!
I’m so glad you said that as I have proven too stupid to work out how to use the BMI scales my wife has bought.
Oh, you are singing to the choir. I run every day. I lift weights. I watch what I eat. My BMI is about 24, so I’m still considered healthy by the charts standards but it doesn’t tell the whole story.
Fortunately I have had good doctors who tell me I am healthy as can be and don’t sweat the weight. But it’s hard. I’ve been conditioned to judge my fitness by the scale. Drives me insane. And things like the BMI chart don’t really help.
Moobs - You have to STAND on the scale for it to work…. it’s hard to do after the whole ball pin hammer incident. lol!
SQT - You are about the only person I know who has an “appropriate” BMI - congratulations - I think….