Should we still be using BMI as a measurement of health?

Exclusively. No. Holistically. Yes.

Photo by Siora Photography on Unsplash

I am writing this article from the perspective of a student midwife working and training in the NHS in London.

What is BMI?

BMI is calculated as a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in meters. BMI is used as a practical estimate of adiposity in adults (NICE 2010).

What is a high BMI?

A high BMI is considered to be 25 and over. Having a BMI of 30 and over falls into the obese classification.

Being obese is not in itself a disease, but as an individual’s level of obesity increases, so does their individual risk of developing a chronic disease. (Gluckman and Hanson 2012).

Cons of using BMI as a measurement of health

• BMI does not take into account muscle mass (Nuttall, 2015)
• BMI does not take into consideration bone density (Bing-Yan Xiang, 2017)
• BMI is considered accurate in 75% of cases at best. (Marshall and Raynor, 2020, pp. 347)
• Despite this, midwives and healthcare professionals widely use and accept BMI.

Prevalence of high BMI…