6 Myths About BMI

Body Mass Index or BMI is used to measure the body's fat on the basis of a person's weight in relation to height. The value derived from BMI determines whether the person is underweight, overweight, or has healthy weight according to the height. The higher BMI is a sign of too much weight while low BMI is a sign of too little fat on the body. Moreover, you can easily measure it by simply putting your height and weight on the online BMI calculator.

Myth 1: A low BMI means that you’re very healthy. #

Fact #

• It is common knowledge that people who are overweight or obese or just a bit heavy are more prone to heart issues, high cholesterol levels, lethargy, and diabetes.

• Since a low BMI means a lighter weight, you might think that having a low BMI would protect you from all these issues.

• But this is not true! Researchers have failed to observe any relationship between these chronic diseases and increased BMI.

• In fact, those with low BMI can still have elevated sugar levels and heart diseases.

Myth 2: A BMI between 19 and 25 means you are completely healthy. #

Fact #

• Studies have shown that people who have normal weight according to their BMI but a higher waistline have the same or even higher risk than those who are obese.

• This means that BMI alone cannot be a standard tool to talk about your health.

• So, the next time someone worries about a higher BMI, ask them to get a proper health checkup done to verify their concerns.

Myth 3: BMI is not related to your ethnicity. #

Fact #

• The ethnicity you belong to also plays a major role in deciding what issues you may be at risk of.

• Ethnicity, again, is not taken into account when calculating your BMI.

• So, even if someone shows as healthy on the BMI scale, they may be prone to various diseases.

• For example, Asians with a healthy BMI still face increased risks of diabetes, high blood pressure, and other heart diseases.

Myth 4: BMI is not related to body type. #

Fact #

• The type and location of fat in the body also affect your health, but this is ignored when calculating the BMI.

• When your fat is stored in your belly, around your stomach, you have an apple or android body type.

• When fat is stored in the thighs and hips, you are said to have a pear-shaped body.

• While BMI cannot predict the patterns of fat storage in the body, other methods such as the DXA body scan or CT scans can help.

• Studies have shown that apple-shaped bodies are more prone to health issues than pear-shaped bodies.

Myth 5: BMI takes into account other aspects of wellness. #

Fact #

In addition to the physical and genetic factors, other aspects that may influence a person’s health are also missed when calculating BMI. These include:

• Mental health

• Dietary habits

• Physical activity

• Social environment

• Daily routine

• Financial factors

Myth 6: BMI means body fat, always. #

Fact #

• BMI means body fat, always is a myth

• Muscles are so much denser than body fat.

• People who are muscular may thus end up weighing a little heavier, resulting in an increase in their BMI.

• Although they would be considered healthy, because of their high BMI, they’ll still be classified as obese or overweight.

• This concern is most notable among boxers, weight trainers, basketball players, and other athletes.