Is BMI a dependable measurement?
Neal Barnard, MD, discusses BMI and how accurate of a measurement it can be.
Transcript
Here's the problem with BMI. You can get it calculated online. You'll find BMI calculators all over the place.
What they don't tell you is where that extra weight is. [MUSIC PLAYING]
Body mass index is a way of measuring your weight. But it adjusts it for your height
because if you're taller, a higher weight is normal. If you're shorter, it's normal to have a lower weight. Here's the problem with BMI.
You can get it calculated online. You'll find BMI calculators all over the place. What they don't tell you is where that extra weight is.
Is it in your belly? Is it in your thighs? That makes a big difference. And the BMI can't tell you that.
The reason that we care about the body mass index is because if my BMI is getting high, that means I'm at a higher risk.
I'm at a higher risk of developing diabetes, developing heart disease, and other health problems. [AUDIO LOGO]
body mass index
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