Is BMI an Accurate Predictor of Health?
Although the body mass index (BMI) isn’t the most accurate way to assess your health status, it is still widely used worldwide. Why? We will answer why many people, including many respectable healthcare professionals, still rely on BMI and how it can be a helpful tool in measuring your health. So, is BMI accurate? Let’s find out.
BMI Explained
The idea behind the body mass index has its roots in the 19th century, when Lambert Adolphe Jacques Quetelet, a Belgian mathematician, came up with it. He developed the BMI calculation to help the government decide where to allocate its health funds by calculating obesity among the population.
Even though Quetelet didn’t mean for the BMI to be used for individual measurements, it’s now primarily used in such studies.
So, how is BMI measured accurately? The formula goes as follows: divide your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. The same stands for your weight in pounds divided by height in inches squared.
If this is too confusing, you can always rely on devices to do it for you. For example, the INEVIFIT Smart Body Fat Scale calculates a person’s BMI and up 12 other metrics that can help you lead a healthy lifestyle. All you have to do is enter basic info about yourself (age, gender, height) and step on the scale — it will do the rest.
To determine whether you fit into the so-called normal BMI metrics, look at this table:
|
BMI range |
Classification |
Health risk |
|
<18.5 |
Underweight |
High |
|
18.5–24.9 |
Normal weight |
Low |
|
25.0–29.9 |
Overweight |
Low to moderate |
|
30.0–34.9 |
Moderately obese |
High |
|
35.0–39.9 |
Severely obese |
Very high |
|
>40.0 |
Extremely obese |
Extremely high |
This calculation might lead a nutritionist or a healthcare professional to adjust your diet and suggest some activity if your BMI does not fit within the “normal” category.
If you agree to follow some healthy lifestyle tips, you might need to change your diet — and the INEVIFIT Kitchen Scale will greatly help with that. You can correctly measure how much protein you intake daily and follow the eating plan prescribed by a professional.
Don’t forget that all that work will be for nothing if you don’t implement some fitness workouts, such as running, swimming, going to the gym, pilates, or simply walking. Physical activity is the key to a healthy life.
Is BMI a Reliable Measurement?
Although we cannot say with certainty that BMI is entirely reliable, studies have shown that people’s health issues, even premature deaths, have had some correlation with their BMIs.
For example, one study showed that people with a BMI of 30.0 and over had a 1.5–2.7x more significant risk of death based on regular follow-ups. Likewise, around 20% of respondents who fall into the obese BMI category are more at risk of heart-related issues.
Furthermore, people who managed to drop their BMI to the so-called normal category have shown decreased rates of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and heart diseases.
So, what’s the conclusion — is BMI accurate? Many have criticized BMI for oversimplifying health-related issues, but these statistics tell us that there’s some truth to it.
Are There Any Downsides to BMI?
Typical BMI calculators that you can find online show the most superficial answer to whether you’re “healthy” or not. That’s because they do not consider other factors, like age, gender, lifestyle, and similar. However, smart scales do just that. They account for those factors to provide the most accurate results possible. So, if you’re wondering, “how accurate is BMI scale?” the answer is — very accurate, certainly more than any online calculator you can find.
Another problem you might come across when calculating your BMI online is fat vs. muscle distribution. You know that one pound of muscle is the same as one pound of fat, but the muscle distribution in the body is denser and takes up less space. In other words, a person with a high muscle mass might appear heavier on the scale. Luckily, a Smart Body Fat Scale considers that.
Likewise, not all body types are the same — you must consider that everyone’s body type stores fat differently. For instance, someone with an apple-shaped body might carry more fat in their thighs, buttocks, and hips, meaning they’re at a higher risk of developing chronic diseases than someone with a pear-shaped body.
Similarly, your ethnicity has something to do with your BMI. Some studies have shown that people of Asian descent have a higher risk of chronic disease at lower BMI points than Caucasians. In that case, it’s better to consult with a professional who can address all of the necessary points.
Final Thoughts — Should You Rely on BMI?
The simple answer is yes, you should. However, don’t depend on simplified BMI calculations you can find on any website. These calculators might not account for all the factors needed to calculate BMI as accurately as possible. So, opt for a smart scale or make an appointment with a licensed professional. You would surely be better off.
