BMI, Body Mass Index, simply compares how much you weigh and how tall you are(1,2). But, does that always mean someone has high body fat? Apparently, not. In fact, 54 million Americans believed to be healthy have BMIs that contradict the fact(1).
Athletes with tons of muscle may be overweight or obese by BMI standards - they pack a lot of muscle weight. On the other hand, for those with too much body fat won't know how much, where it is, nor what kind - fat accumulation around the middle of the body, and especially visceral fat are health risks(2).
A study in Manitoba province, Canada even looked at X-rays of bone density and direct measurements of body fat in a study of men and women of various BMIs. Low BMI but higher body fat percentage skyrocketed death rates. "DEXA scans or hydrostatic weighing" are facility-based methods considered way more accurate in calculating body fat, though it is possible to calculate online as well(1).
Sources:
1. Van Der Borne, Jake. "Scrap the Scale, Banish BMI: This Number Is Far More Important." Jake's Health Solutions, copyright Jake Van Der Borne and Jake's Health Solutions, website copyright 2003-15, http://www.jakeshealthsolutions.com/scrap-the-scale-banish-bmi-this-number-is-far-more-important-3831.
2. Hills, Jenny. "Are You Obese, Overweight? Use This BMI Calculator Chart to Find Out." Healthy And Natural Word, Healthy And Natural World, website copyright 2019, https://www.healthyandnaturalworld.com/bmi-chart-and-what-it-can-tell-you/.
Athletes with tons of muscle may be overweight or obese by BMI standards - they pack a lot of muscle weight. On the other hand, for those with too much body fat won't know how much, where it is, nor what kind - fat accumulation around the middle of the body, and especially visceral fat are health risks(2).
A study in Manitoba province, Canada even looked at X-rays of bone density and direct measurements of body fat in a study of men and women of various BMIs. Low BMI but higher body fat percentage skyrocketed death rates. "DEXA scans or hydrostatic weighing" are facility-based methods considered way more accurate in calculating body fat, though it is possible to calculate online as well(1).
Sources:
1. Van Der Borne, Jake. "Scrap the Scale, Banish BMI: This Number Is Far More Important." Jake's Health Solutions, copyright Jake Van Der Borne and Jake's Health Solutions, website copyright 2003-15, http://www.jakeshealthsolutions.com/scrap-the-scale-banish-bmi-this-number-is-far-more-important-3831.
2. Hills, Jenny. "Are You Obese, Overweight? Use This BMI Calculator Chart to Find Out." Healthy And Natural Word, Healthy And Natural World, website copyright 2019, https://www.healthyandnaturalworld.com/bmi-chart-and-what-it-can-tell-you/.
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