BMI (Body Mass Index) has been used for more than 100 years in population studies, by doctors, personal trainers, and other health care professionals, when deciding whether their patients are overweight.
It is a simple formula to estimate if you are at the correct weight by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. However, many medical experts note that BMI has one important flaw – it does not measure your overall fat or lean tissue (muscle) content.
According to health.com, BMI is a good starting to point to determine if you are in shape because it is a simple number that takes into account both height and weight. But BMI does not take into account physical fitness or bone structure, and it doesn’t differentiate between weight gained at a musclebuilding camp or weight gained at McDonalds.
So, if you’re packing a lot of muscle—say, if you’re a bodybuilding male—you may end up with a BMI in the obese range. (For example, at the peak of his bodybuilding career, Arnold Schwarzenegger had a BMI of 33, which is considered obese).
The National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases reminds us of the three most important things to keep in mind when trying to have a healthier and more active lifestyle regardless of what your BMI reading is:
1. Make healthy food choices. Half of your plate should be fruits and veggies.
2. Eat small portions. Use a smaller plate, weigh portions on a scale, or check the Nutrition Facts label for details about serving sizes.
3. Build exercise into your daily life. Garden, go for family walks, play a pickup game of sports, swim, take the stairs, or walk to the grocery store or work.
