According to the authors of a new scientific study, measuring the ratio of waist circumference to body height is a significantly better indicator of health than the commonly used body mass index (BMI). The research thus proves once again that BMI is an outdated indicator of health and that it is necessary to focus especially on obesity in the abdominal area.
It causes a number of serious diseases. An ordinary tape measure can better detect the risks associated with fat deposited around vital organs, which increases the likelihood of heart disease or stroke.
Experts say that if the waist circumference is less than half of a person’s height, it is a good indicator of a healthy body weight, especially in older people. While BMI is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters, the waist-to-height ratio is based on waist circumference divided by height.
According to scientists, BMI is problematic because it does not distinguish between fat and muscle mass. A BMI value above 30 is classified as obesity. But bodybuilders and many athletes also have a value of 30. “We often hear that athletes have a BMI over 30 and would be labeled as living with obesity, but we know this is not the case. They are not overweight. This study shows the other side of the same coin,” said Dr Laura Gray from the University of Sheffield.
Older people tend to lose muscle mass as they age, meaning their body fat percentage is higher, but their weight is still falling. BMI then decreases, but in reality their health deteriorates. Waist-to-height ratio, because it measures waist circumference, gives doctors a more accurate measurement of visceral fat. According to scientists, the fat stored around the internal organs has a greater influence on how the organs in the body work.
