> We shouldn't assume other professionals are "dumb"; we shouldn't assume that we are a brilliant bunch, capable of seeing beyond an indicator, while doctors and nutrition professionals use them blindly.
Um... what? If doctors and professionals are using BMI blindly, that absolutely classifies their opinion as 'dumb'.
The fact is, 'boring' or not, the calculations for BMI most definitely give you skewed results because it doesn't consider muscle mass. As has already been pointed out, this classifies athletes as obese very easily.
This isn't just a 'woe is me' from athletes. It could have real-world implications.
1) What happens when they want to get life insurance, the company blindly calculates their BMI based on height/weight, and classifies them as obese? Tada: Higher premiums.
2) What happens when a self-conscious teenage girl who's very fit and active realizes she's 'overweight' without realizing it's muscle mass causing it? Agree or not, this scenario is a real one and could cause her to eat less, thus depriving her body of the nutrition that she needs.
3) While on the subject of kids... blindly following BMI rules and enforcing standards based on them, schools basically assume that every kid of overweight. As a parent with a child who fluctuates between normal and underweight, it baffles me that he's actively encouraged to eat low calorie meals.
The criticism of BMI is there precisely because it doesn't apply in a large portion of cases. The 'obesity epidemic' doesn't excuse it. It's irresponsible from a healthcare standpoint, and these people are being called out.
> If doctors and professionals are using BMI blindly
They aren't.
> The fact is, 'boring' or not, the calculations for BMI most definitely give you skewed results because it doesn't consider muscle mass.
They most definitely don't give you skewed results. How can the results be skewed if they are straightforward math from the body mass (independently of it being mostly lean or fat)?
Wrong interpretation of the values are what's problematic, not the "values". But, as I said above, professionals aren't using it blindly
> What happens when they want to get life insurance, the company blindly calculates their BMI based on height/weight, and classifies them as obese? Tada: Higher premiums.
Yeah, but this is not a problem with the indicator, nor the . It's a problem with (lack of) honesty.
> the criticism of BMI is there precisely because it doesn't apply in a large portion of cases.
My criticism of the criticistm of BMI is exactly because this is somewhat wrong, depending on what you define as a large portion. BMI applies to most people, and people who really should look at BMI for their job (i.e. doctors an nutrition professionals) are aware of its shortcomings.
> > If doctors and professionals are using BMI blindly
> They aren't.
I see, I misread your original comment. The phrasing just threw me.
> How can the results be skewed if they are straightforward math from the body mass (independently of it being mostly lean or fat)?
That's splitting hairs. I think you knew I meant interpretation.
> this is not a problem with the indicator, nor the . It's a problem with (lack of) honesty.
In fact, it IS a problem with the indicator, because it's being used as basis for large decisions, and it has the backing of the medical industry in spite of it's limitations.
You conveniently skipped over the other issues I mentioned.
> people who really should look at BMI for their job (i.e. doctors an nutrition professionals) are aware of its shortcomings.
You yourself admit that it has shortcomings, but then defend it as what... 'better than nothing'? There are many examples if BMI being used incorrectly by those 'nutrition professionals', so it's hard to see your side of the argument.
> You yourself admit that it has shortcomings, but then defend it as what... 'better than nothing'?
No, I defend it as any other useful indicator (and there are publications on BMI usefulness), to be used by knowledgeable persons. You wouldn't blame "miles per gallon" as something bad because someone evaluated the SUV against the economy-class car standards, right?
A physician looking at a patient might decide to look at BMI, if the thinks it is adequate. A large institution (e.g. an university) might also use it to classify its population as a whole.
Yes, BMI is practical because it relies on two simple measurements, weight and height, and it is most useful when you're talking about populations of people rather than individuals. There are other ways to measure body fat percentage which will give you a more accurate measure for individuals but they're not practical for large populations. The "gold standard" for body fat measurement involves dunking the body into water to measure volume-- this not done at a routine physical exam !
Um... what? If doctors and professionals are using BMI blindly, that absolutely classifies their opinion as 'dumb'.
The fact is, 'boring' or not, the calculations for BMI most definitely give you skewed results because it doesn't consider muscle mass. As has already been pointed out, this classifies athletes as obese very easily.
This isn't just a 'woe is me' from athletes. It could have real-world implications.
1) What happens when they want to get life insurance, the company blindly calculates their BMI based on height/weight, and classifies them as obese? Tada: Higher premiums.
2) What happens when a self-conscious teenage girl who's very fit and active realizes she's 'overweight' without realizing it's muscle mass causing it? Agree or not, this scenario is a real one and could cause her to eat less, thus depriving her body of the nutrition that she needs.
3) While on the subject of kids... blindly following BMI rules and enforcing standards based on them, schools basically assume that every kid of overweight. As a parent with a child who fluctuates between normal and underweight, it baffles me that he's actively encouraged to eat low calorie meals.
The criticism of BMI is there precisely because it doesn't apply in a large portion of cases. The 'obesity epidemic' doesn't excuse it. It's irresponsible from a healthcare standpoint, and these people are being called out.