Noah Jameson PhD The Body Mass Index (BMI) has permeated our lives as a widely-used metric for assessing health and obesity. Dr. Joseph Raabick delves into the intriguing history of the BMI, from its origin in the 19th century to its current controversial status.
The Body Mass Index for Dummies
In simple terms, the BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight, offering a quick health assessment applicable to men, women, and children. The BMI chart categorizes individuals as underweight, normal, overweight, or obese. Dr. Heffernan acknowledges its simplicity but questions its universal applicability.
Controversies Surrounding the BMI
Critics argue that the BMI neglects body fat percentage, a potentially more accurate health indicator. Athletes often fall into the obese category, raising concerns about the BMI’s effectiveness. The central question arises: How did a measurement that disregards crucial factors become so pervasive?
The Birth of the BMI
In the 19th century, Adolphe Quetelet, a renowned statistician, sought to define a “normal man.” His research led to the discovery of the BMI, with weight varying in proportion to the square of height. Quetelet’s findings, initially embraced by the medical community, remained confined to scholarly circles until the 20th century.
Growing Usage and the Insurance Connection
In the early 1900s, concerns about illnesses linked to excessive body fat prompted actuaries to explore risk classification. Louis I. Dublin of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company pioneered the development of BMI tables for insurance purposes, mirroring Quetelet’s approach from a century earlier. As rival insurance companies recognized the correlation between physical characteristics and morbidity, BMI tables became a standard for calculating insurance premiums.
The Influence of Ancel Keys
Ancel Keys, a controversial figure in anti-fat movements, played a crucial role in popularizing BMI charts in the medical community. In 1972, Keys published a landmark study that revealed Quetelet’s formula, weight divided by height squared, as the most reliable for measuring obesity. Keys coined the term “body mass index,” introducing a subtle shift from percentage-based categorization.
Misused or Misunderstood? The Modern Debate
Despite Ancel Keys’ warnings against individual classifications, the BMI gained widespread acceptance in health assessments. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States defined obesity by BMI in 1985, setting thresholds at round numbers for easy recall. Dr. Heffernan notes that Keys never intended the BMI as a stand-alone measure, emphasizing its limitations in accounting for gender, age, muscle mass, and bone density.
Looking to the Future
As criticisms against the BMI mount, Dr. Heffernan echoes calls for its retirement in individual health assessments. Acknowledging the global weight crisis, he emphasizes the need for a more nuanced method that considers various factors to provide a genuine insight into an individual’s health.
