Is BMI actually outdated?

Is BMI actually outdated?

Though it has been used for decades as the go-to measurement for health based on body size, it has been widely criticized for its oversimplification of what being healthy really means. In fact, many claim BMI is outdated and inaccurate and shouldn’t be used in medical and fitness settings.

Why is my BMI high when I’m not fat?

How muscular you are: A few people have high BMIs but don’t have much body fat. Their muscle tissue pushes up their weight. An example: “A football player or a body builder who is very muscular. Their BMI shows up pretty high, and yet their body fat is actually pretty low,” Kahan says.

What’s more accurate than BMI?

Scientists say waist-to-hip ratio better measure for healthy weight than BMI.

Why is the BMI flawed?

Body Mass Index’ biggest flaw is that it does not take into account the person’s body fat versus muscle (lean tissue) content. Muscle weighs more than fat (it is denser, a cubic inch of muscle weighs more than a cubic inch of fat).

Why you should ignore BMI?

BMI doesn’t account for body composition, which means it misses the difference between muscle mass and fat. Because muscles are more dense and heavier than fat, bodybuilders and other professional athletes like football players are often considered obese or overweight based on their BMI alone.

Can you be fit and have a high BMI?

Yes as long as the person is declared “healthy” after a physical examination. Muscular athletes often have high BMIs but are healthy. There are many healthy people that have a higher BMI than the suggested healthy range of 18.5-24.9 due to a higher muscle mass than overweight individuals.