![]() Limitations of using BMI as a screening tool for health conditions People who have muscle atrophy (wasting) due to medical conditions.You shouldn’t use the standard BMI chart to assess the amount of body fat of the following populations: The BMI chart hasn’t been adjusted for the increasing average adult height over the years.The same BMI chart is used for adults assigned male at birth (AMAB) and adults assigned female at birth (AFAB) even though adults AFAB typically have more body fat than adults AMAB.Because of this, a person can have a high BMI (by being muscular) but still have a very low fat mass and vice versa. BMI doesn’t differentiate between lean body mass (the weight of everything in your body except fat) and fat mass.The standard BMI has limitations in regards to diagnosing weight types, including: ![]() ![]() Limitations of using BMI to help diagnose weight types Because of this, it’s important to not put too much emphasis on your BMI.Įven though the BMI chart can be inaccurate for certain people, healthcare providers still use it because it’s the quickest tool for assessing a person’s estimated body fat amount. The standard BMI chart has limitations for various reasons. Several other factors, such as genetics, activity level, smoking cigarettes or using tobacco, drinking alcohol and mental health conditions all affect your overall health and your likelihood of developing certain medical conditions. It’s important to remember that body fatness isn’t the only determiner of overall health. The optimum range for a healthy BMI is considered to be 18.5 to 24.9. and is 5 feet and 5 inches tall (65 inches total) would calculate their BMI in the following way: Divide that answer by your height in inches again.įor example, a person who weighs 180 lbs.Divide that answer by your height in inches (there are 12 inches in 1 foot).You can calculate BMI yourself with these steps: If your BMI reveals you may have obesity, your provider will likely order certain blood tests to check your general health, such as a comprehensive metabolic panel and lipid panel. Genetics and other factors, such as smoking cigarettes, play a large role in the development of these conditions. Similarly, you could have a high BMI without having any of these conditions. ![]() It’s important to remember that you could have any of the above health conditions without having a high BMI. Depression and other mental health conditions.Certain cancers, including colon, breast, endometrial and gallbladder.In general, the higher your BMI, the higher your risk for the following conditions: If you have underweight, your healthcare provider will likely order certain blood tests and other tests to check your overall health and to see if you’re malnourished. Weakened immune system, which could lead to more frequent infections and illnesses.If you have a BMI less than 18.5 (underweight), you may be at higher risk for developing the following conditions: DEXA scan and air displacement plethysmography (ADP) - these are used less often.Measuring skin thickness using skinfold calipers in certain areas of your body, such as the back of your upper arms and under your shoulder blades.In general, the following BMI ranges (in kg/m2) classify different weight types:īMI isn’t the only tool providers use to classify weight types. Healthcare providers use BMI to help diagnose weight types and as a screening tool for certain health conditions. Talk to your child's healthcare provider about the optimum weight range for their age and height. ![]() You should not use the standard BMI chart to evaluate a child’s or teenager’s weight. It also provides a source of energy for your body, helps maintain body temperature and protects your organs. Just the right amount of body fat helps vitamins and minerals get into your body. Low body fat may be related to malnutrition. High body fat may lead to heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes. Healthcare providers use BMI and other tools and tests to assess someone’s health status and risks. In most people, BMI correlates to body fat - the higher the number, the more body fat you may have - but it’s not accurate in some cases. Healthcare providers calculate BMI by using weight in kilograms (kg) divided by the square of height in meters (m2). Body mass index (BMI) is a medical screening tool that measures the ratio of your height to your weight to estimate the amount of body fat you have. ![]()
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