BMI is an 'Imperfect' Measure of Body Fat, Says AMA: Live Science

The American Medical Association (AMA) has issued new guidelines stating that Body Mass Index (BMI) is an “imperfect” measure of body fat and should be used in conjunction with other health risk measures, Live Science reports.

Limitations of BMI

BMI, which estimates a person’s body fat based on their weight and height, doesn’t distinguish between body fat and lean body mass. It also doesn’t account for where on the body excess fat is carried, which is important as upper body fat increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease more than lower body fat. Furthermore, BMI doesn’t account for differences in body shape and composition among different sexes, ages, races, and ethnicities.

Implications of BMI Misuse

The misuse of BMI in medical research can skew understanding of the risk of disease and death linked to obesity. Studies often fail to account for other key factors that may affect people’s risk, such as a history of smoking, alcohol use, medication use, or a family history of disease.

New AMA Policy

The AMA now recommends that BMI should be used in conjunction with other valid measures of risk, including measures of visceral fat, relative fat mass, and waist circumference. Genetic factors and metabolic factors, such as high blood pressure and fasting blood sugar levels, should also be considered. The AMA warns that overreliance on BMI can lead to the underdiagnosis and undertreatment of eating disorders.

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