the bmi chart

How helpful is this thing? 

Facts about the BMI Chart

If you’ve ever been to a doctor’s office and were told you were overweight, it’s because they were referencing the BMI chart. It’s been around since 1832 and its what healthcare providers use currently to decide who falls into the ‘healthy weight’ category. A simple calculation using your height & weight (and that’s it.) 

What you may not know, is that the BMI Chart was never meant to be a measurement of obesity for individual classification- it was meant to compare populations of people. It also does not take into account other factors (age, muscle mass, bone density, body fat percentage). When the data was being collected to support this method of measurement, only white European bodies were used. So, if you don’t fall into that category, then it’s an even more inaccurate measure to use.

Despite so many red flags about the use of BMI chart, it just won’t go away. To this day, it’s how medical insurance companies decide who qualifies for weight loss surgery and how life insurance companies decide who is at high risk. 

Getting too wrapped up in the numbers.

I’ve seen it time & time again- placing so much value in the numbers. Whether it’s your BMI, your weight, your pant size, how many calories you eat. It’s enough to drive you crazy and it will if you let it. 

There are so many things to factor into what makes you the size that you are:

-your muscle mass

-how hydrated you are

-for females, where you are in your menstrual cycle

-other health conditions

-genetics

-what time of day it is

But more importantly, none of this suggests your value as a person.

Ways to measure progress

Once you decide to ditch the numbers (and I hope you do!), there are still ways to monitor your progress towards your weight loss goals. 

-Clothing: the best indicator of progress. You know how you feel in your clothes! If there are things that didn’t fit you before & they do now = PROGRESS. 

-Fitness Milestones: if you can walk up a flight of stairs now without feeling like you’re going to die but before you could barely make it halfway = PROGRESS. 

-General well-being: if you used to feel sluggish, depressed, & with little motivation but now you feel naturally energized, upbeat, and clear headed to focus on your goals = PROGRESS.

Instead of aiming for a certain number to determine if you’re healthy, try to be as healthy as possible at the weight you are. Make lifestyle changes that promote healthy living and let the by-product of that be weight loss.