In July 2023, the American Medical Association stated that body mass index is an imperfect way of measuring body fat in the clinical setting. This is partly because this method does not take into account differences between racial and ethnic groups, gender, and age.
Body mass index first became widely used in the 1930s and 1940s. And not by doctors, but by representatives of insurance companies.
However, scientists note that the body mass index itself is very simplified. For example, using this indicator it is impossible to find out the cholesterol level, blood sugar level, it is impossible to understand how the liver works, how the person moves and works in general.
Other experts emphasize that body mass index does not separate fat and muscle mass in a person’s body and does not provide information about the distribution of fat in the body. Therefore, body mass index should always be interpreted together with other parameters: blood pressure, blood sugar level, etc.
News materials cannot be equated with a doctor’s prescription. Consult an expert before making a decision.
Source: Ferra
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
