In today’s time when our lives have to a large extent become fodder for other people’s consumption and judgement, body image issues and eating disorders have unfortunately become a huge part of our reality.
As per the study by the Lancet medical journal done in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and released ahead of World Obesity Day (Mar 4), more than one billion people across the world suffer from obesity. This conclusion was based on data measured on the BMI index.
What is obesity?
Many of us falsely believe anything that doesn’t fit the societal norm is obese. We have got so used to comparing our bodies with others that searches like ‘what is the ideal weight for someone of XYZ height’ are common.
The internet’s answer to such a question? The BMI index, which lumps you into brackets like underweight, healthy, overweight, and obese. But, how valid is the BMI index? Is it an apt scale for measuring obesity?
To answer these questions and more, WION connected with a senior dietitian with more than a decade’s experience.
What is the BMI index?
The Body Mass Index (BMI) has long been used as a standard measure to categorise an individual’s weight status.
It traces its origins back to between 1830 and 1850, when Adolphe Quetelet, a Belgian astronomer, mathematician, statistician, and sociologist, devised its basis. Then called the Quetelet Index, it was a means of discovering the socially ideal human person. Now, it is used to devise the ideal weight.
However, its validity and effectiveness have been a subject of debate among health professionals and researchers.
While BMI provides a simple and quick way to assess weight-related health risks, it comes with many limitations.
One major criticism of BMI is its reliance solely on weight and height, without considering other important factors, such as muscle mass, bone density, and distribution of fat.
This means that individuals with a high muscle mass, such as athletes, may be classified as overweight or obese, despite being in excellent health. Similarly, older adults and those with different ethnic backgrounds may not be accurately assessed by BMI due to variations in body composition.
As per Veena V, Chief Clinical Dietitian at Aster Whitefield Hospital, even those with the appropriate BMI measurement can have health problems like fatty liver.
She notes that BMI can also vary between different ethnicities. Comparing the diet in India and abroad, she said that in India, several people consume food that can lead to added fat around the waist. This is often considered unhealthy, but that isn’t always the case.
The psychological effects
BMI fails to account for the psychological effects it can have on individuals. Being told that you are overweight or obese based on a numerical value can lead to feelings of shame, guilt, and low self-esteem. This can be particularly harmful to vulnerable populations, such as teenagers, who are already facing immense pressure to conform to societal beauty standards.
“Sometimes, if people focus too much on their BMI, they might start doing unhealthy things like extreme dieting or exercising too much. This can hurt their bodies and their minds,” said Psychotherapist Ekta Khurana.
“We should recognise that health is multifaceted, and weight alone doesn’t define well-being,” she adds.
Despite its limitations, BMI can still be a useful screening tool, but only when used in conjunction with other assessments, such as waist circumference and body fat percentage. However, its validity and effectiveness as a standalone measure are questionable. Health professionals and individuals alike should be aware of its limitations and use it as part of a comprehensive assessment of health status and not as a final verdict on how healthy or unhealthy one is.
