Obesity: There is a new guideline

Obesity is defined as a body weight that is higher than the prescribed standard. For the longest time, the yardstick to measure was Body Mass Index, also known as BMI.

I have written several times in the past that this measure is wrong. I am glad that the standards and the method is being upgraded. About time.

So what has changed and how does it impact you?

For those unaware, Body Mass Index is calculated by dividing your height by weight. It gives you an index. If the number is more than 25, tending toward 30, you are staring at being labelled obese. Above 30, you are.

But this number was misleading for several reasons.

Imagine I and Bruce Lee were the same height. Yes, I know I speak about him a lot. He is a hero to me. But indulge me.

Bruce Lee would be much heavier than me, most of it muscle. So his index (height/weight) would be more than mine, pushing him toward obesity.

Which would be absurd, isn’t it? But that is how we have labelled people till now.

With a total disregard for body composition.

What matters instead is the body fat, because it is fat that makes you obese, not muscle.

Which is why the index is being revised. The new version will reflect the body fat and also the distribution of the body fat.

You will get negative points for visceral fat, a.k.a. abdominal fat.

I see this as a trend toward the kind of good health and wellness that we need. I spoke about it here.

The easiest way to confuse people is to mislabel standards. Or set bad metrics against which we measure.

BMI was clearly one of them and I am glad it is being thrown out for good.

Where do you stand on the new standard?

Reach out to me on twitter @rbawri Instagram @riteshbawriofficial and YouTube at www.youtube.com/breatheagain