Let's Hear It For Science!

[davidschroth]

Article headline in the latest issue of Science News Magazine:

'Overweight' may be healthiest BMI.

The article cites a number of studies showing that as a predictor of health issues, BMI is just a reasonably easy number to calculate (with no real predictive value).

Not that any of this research will stop health insurance companies from attempting to punish people with "unhealthy" BMIs....

Comments

[dreamshark.livejournal.com]

BMI was originally intended as a tool for comparing populations in epidemiological and health survey studies, not as a way of evaluating individuals.

It's probably no more inaccurate than the old height-weight charts (which WERE developed by an insurance company, if I recall correctly, and based on some "expert's" gut feel rather than actual facts). And it's been known for years that the statistically healthiest place to be on those charts is "slightly overweight." Which SHOULD call into question what the term "overweight" means, but somehow it never does.