Why is BMI important ?

BMI is a simple, inexpensive, and noninvasive surrogate measure of body fat. In contrast to other methods, BMI relies solely on height and weight and with access to the proper equipment, individuals can have their BMI routinely measured and calculated with reasonable accuracy.

Studies have shown that BMI levels correlate with body fat and with future health risks. High BMI predicts future morbidity and death. Therefore, BMI is an appropriate measure for screening for obesity and health risks.

High body-mass index (BMI) is an important risk factor for cardiovascular and kidney diseases, diabetes, some cancers, and musculoskeletal disorders.

Some common variables that influence interpretation of BMI:

·    On average; older adults tend to have more body fat than younger adults for an equivalent BMI

·    On average; women have greater amounts of total body fat than men with an equivalent BMI

·     Muscular individuals, or highly trained athletes, may have a high BMI because of increased muscle mass

Limitations of BMI

Because no single body fat measure clearly distinguishes health from disease or risk of disease, BMI should serve as the initial screening of overweight and obesity for adults. Health care providers should recognize that other factors, such as fat distribution, genetics, and fitness level, contribute to an individual’s assessment of disease risk.

BMI and Ethnicity: People from different ethnic backgrounds may have varying body compositions. For example, individuals of Asian descent may tend to have a higher percentage of body fat at lower BMIs compared to individuals of European descent. This has led some health organizations to use lower BMI cutoffs for Asians to define overweight and obesity. Health risks associated with obesity can also vary by ethnicity. Some ethnic groups may be at a higher risk of obesity-related health conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, at lower BMIs. Adjusting BMI cutoffs for specific populations can help identify individuals at greater risk.

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