Bryan Marcel: BMI Is Meaningless

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) December 1, 2010 --

I read a newspaper article about a study that shows that “Obese people live longer.” I have pretty much given up on the media and their ability to report “studies” accurately. Over and over it appears that they simply report anything that comes across the wire without doing any research as to the accuracy of the purported study. The actual study did not conclude that obese people live longer. It concluded that “People, who were overweight, but not obese, lived longer than those whose weight, based on BMI (Body Mass Index), was considered normal”. Those “overweight” people were 17% less likely to die than a person of normal weight.

Although doctors can't figure out why those people live longer, there is a theory. Since being overweight is a risk factor for heart disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases this group of people tend to get screened for and prescribed drugs for those conditions, thus extending their lives. So does this mean that we all should stop eating a healthy diet and stay on the sofa watching TV all day? Nope, just the opposite. This study looked only at death rates, not the quality of life up until that point. “The net result of these phenomena may be a population that is, paradoxically, more obese, diabetic, arthritic, disabled and medicated but with lower overall cardiovascular disease risk.”, the authors concluded. I for one am willing to forgo the extra 17% life expectancy to be healthy, active and independent up to my death. But keep in mind that this study was based on BMI using the height vs. weight formula. This “study” like most that make the “news” have flawed research design and fall into the category of junk science.

Body mass index is based on a simplistic mathematical formula to calculate body fat.

Although this formula may be useful as applied to societies as a whole it is severely lacking for the individual. This formula does not take into account body type, bone mass or muscle mass. A BMI greater that 24.9 is considered overweight. A BMI of 30.0 or more is considered obese. Using this formula I am almost classified as overweight with a BMI of 24.0. The formula does not work for me because I have a muscular build. Not that I'm even in the same ballpark (excuse the intentional pun), but it apparently doesn't work for NFL football players either. BMI determined that 97% of them were overweight and 56% percent were obese. So I guess that I am in good company. And because I am almost “overweight” I almost fall into the group of people in the study that will live 17% longer. Great!

The New England Journal of Medicine published a study on obesity. The doctors concluded that “unhealthy diet and diet drugs for obesity may be worse than the condition [being overweight]”. They continued “dietary factors and activity patterns that are too sedentary” were the leading to high death rates and “not obesity alone”. Taken as a whole this reduces BMI to merely a guide for ideal weight. And a guide is what BMI should be.

BMI is as meaningless as a single weight measurement or a single blood pressure reading. It is only a small part of a very big picture. Ultimately, the Bryan Marcel lifestyle— which advocates eating a healthy diet of clean whole foods that is low in simple and refined carbohydrates, getting out and exercising, getting plenty of sleep, reducing stress and loving someone and something— will go a lot further than trying to lose a few extra pounds to fit into a mathematical formula. Simply put. It’s a lifestyle.
http://wwww.BryanMarcel.com

bmi     BMI calc     bmi calculator     body mass index     body mass index calculator     calories to lose weight     weight loss     weight loss tips