User:Gpechero/Health Issues with using BMI as a measurement

Body mass index measurements, created in the 1800s, is the main way in which people are classified as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or one of the classes of obesity. This measurement is used to classify body types, but it is now used to determine if a given person has a disease. In 2013, the American Medical Association voted for obesity to be classified as a disease. People who are considered obese are at risk of lower life expectancy and several other health complications. However, studies have be done and data has be presented suggesting that using BMI as a predictor of obesity, which then makes it a predictor of health outcomes, is not a good idea.

When taking into consideration the extremes of both very low measurements of BMI and very high measurements of BMI, BMI is able to accurately predict classifications of body types and thus, potential health outcomes. However, utilizing BMI for more medial measurements becomes worrisome. The use of BMI as a health indicator has some concerns. People are being classified as being obese when they are still considered healthier than non-obese people in other measurements of health. However, what is possibly more concerning is the fact that there are people who are not classified as obese, but should be.