The dangerous lie your BMI sometimes tells

You’ve probably heard the term body mass index or BMI since it’s become quite the health buzzword over the last decade.

Basically, your BMI calculates the relationship between your height and your weight to determine if you are overweight or obese. And, the medical community has increasingly used the calculation to determine whether or not you’re at risk for health issues like diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and heart disease.

But, what if your BMI is lying?

When your weight is normal, but your death risk is high

That might sound like a weird question but according to a new study from the University of Iowa you could have a body mass index that’s considered normal but still be at high risk for obesity-related health issues.

The Iowa researchers used data from the Women’s Health Initiative, which tracked the health of more than 156,000 women between the ages of 50 and 79 for a period of 24 years. And, they linked mortality rates not just to the women’s BMI but also to their central obesity (the excess accumulation of fat around your middle which is measured by waist circumference).

And, they found one thing that I’m sure wouldn’t surprise any of us…

Women who were considered obese from their BMI measurement were 30 percent more likely to die during the study.

But, they also found something you might not expect.

Related: 2 common habits you’d never guess are blowing up your BMI

The women who were considered normal weight on the BMI scale but had a high waist circumference were a whopping 31 percent more likely to die within the two-decade observation period.

That means that high waist circumference is just as dangerous as being obese!

And, the researchers discovered that the two primary causes of death in people who had normal BMI but high waist size were cardiovascular disease and obesity-related cancer.

According to the study lead author, these results clearly demonstrate the limitations of BMI when it comes to determining your risk for future health problems. They say that while it’s a simple number to understand and easy to determine, it’s just not always accurate since it ignores other important numbers, like your percentage of body fat or where that fat has accumulated on your body.

Determining your risks

So, in order to be aware of your risks, you should take into account your body shape as well as your body mass index.

To check your BMI, use the formula:

BMI = kg/m2

For the calculation, kg is your weight I kilograms and m2 is your height in meters squared. Or, to make it easy, you can even use the free online calculator from the NIH.

If you’re BMI is over 25, you’re considered overweight, and over 30 is labeled obese.

Next, check your waist circumference by placing a tape measure around your middle just above your hip bones. For the study, central obesity was defined as a waist circumference greater than 88 cm.

Once you have both numbers, you’ll have a better idea of where you stand and if necessary be able to make a plan of action to lose the weight necessary to lower your risks.

Editor’s note: Getting fit is not as complicated as you might think. In Dr. Cutler’s free report, you can read about 10 easy steps to a natural total health makeover based on just 7 basic fundamentals that cover ALL the bases… My favorite is #7: Indulge occasionally! For the rest, click here!

Sources:

1. Why is BMI Important? — Diabetes.co.uk
2. Waist size is a forgotten factor in defining obesity — EurekAlert!
3. Risk of death among postmenopausal women with normal weight and high abdominal fat — EurekAlert!