Why shouldn’t BMI be used to calculate obesity?

The American Association argues that body mass index is not the only tool used to determine a person who is obese. Other measures are important

OR Body Mass Index (BMI) It is a widely used tool for determining an individual’s body fat. Depending on the result obtained in the calculation, the healthcare professional could classify the patient as overweight or obese, for example. However, medical bodies warn of the limitation of their results, suggesting the use of complementary alternatives.

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Not using BMI as a way to determine an individual’s body fat is one of the new guidelines from the American Medical Association (AMA) in the United States. Now, complementary methods are needed. Before the current definition, the argument was already supported by numerous specialists, including Brazilian entities.

Understand what BMI is

It is worth explaining what BMI is a very simple calculation made from an individual’s weight and height. After the age of 18, the age factor is no longer considered. Gender (female or male) is also excluded. So excess body fat is theoretically the same for a young man and an older woman. It also does not include any variation by body biotype.

On the other hand, one of the possible reasons that have ensured its popularity over the years has been the ease of concluding who is obese or not. To do this, just make a simple mathematical equation and, if the result is equal to or greater than 30, the person is immediately classified as obese. There is no room for nuances.

Why doesn’t BMI work for measuring body fat?

With the decision, the AMA confirms the fact that there is no single tool for determining body fat and the health impact of weight, as several parameters are important in medical evaluation. Among the limits and the applications presented, the association highlights the following:

• Inaccuracy in determining body measurements of different groups, as the technique has only been validated in non-Hispanic white populations;
• It does not consider weight differences by age group, such as body variations of young and old;
• It doesn’t identify where the person accumulates body fat, such as top or bottom, which is important for scientific studies;
• It ignores other important health risk measures, such as blood pressure and cholesterol.

What tool to use instead of BMI?

“Because of the significant limitations associated with the widespread use of BMI in the clinical setting, the AMA recommends it [a ferramenta] be used in conjunction with other valid measurements” to determine a person’s body fat, the agency said in a statement.

Now, the idea is that it’s not a single tool for defining body fat, but a set of data, such as:

• Measurement of visceral fat, i.e. the amount of fat surrounding the internal organs;
• Relative fat mass measurement (RMM), this is an estimate of body fat based on the ratio of your height to your waist
• Waistline;
• Genetic factors, such as a family history of heart disease and diabetes
• Metabolic factors, such as possible cases of high blood pressure (hypertension).

With this change in body fat analysis, the expectation is that weight-related (or non-weight-related) risks will be better established. Furthermore, the updating of the standards should allow for treatments, when needed, that are more specific to the patient’s problems.

BMI still valid in Brazil?

Although the issue has been reviewed in the United States, the debate was already more advanced here. Since last year, the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabology (SBEM) and the Brazilian Association for the Study of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome (ABESO) have already proposed alternative ways of looking at body mass and obesity in an individual, even if they don’t they have discounted BMI entirely.

The idea is to tackle obesity through the maximum weight achieved in life (MWAL). In this form of classification, individuals can be classified as having “reduced” or “controlled” obesity, depending on how well they respond to treatments. The change brings a new form of monitoring for both the patient and the physicians. Moreover, in these cases, a loss of 5% of body mass could already lead to beneficial results for health, even if the BMI has remained unchanged.

Source: LOVE AND KNOW

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Rose

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.