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Beyond body mass index.

A M Prentice1, S A Jebb

  • 1MRC International Nutrition Group, Public Health Nutrition Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 49-51 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3DP, UK. andrew.prentice@ishtm.ac.uk

Obesity Reviews : an Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity
|July 18, 2002
PubMed
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Body mass index (BMI) is a common obesity measure but can be misleading. Direct body fat measurement offers a more accurate assessment of health risks, especially in diverse populations.

Area of Science:

  • Anthropometry
  • Obesity Research
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Body mass index (BMI) is widely used for obesity classification and health assessment.
  • BMI is an indirect measure of body fat, serving as a surrogate for actual body fatness.
  • Excess body fat, not just BMI, is directly linked to adverse health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To advocate for the development of standards based on direct body fat measurement.
  • To highlight the limitations of surrogate measures like BMI in various populations.
  • To propose an evolution beyond BMI towards more accurate body composition assessments.

Main Methods:

  • Review and analysis of existing literature on anthropometric measures and body fat assessment.
  • Illustration of conditions where BMI provides inaccurate body fat information.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Comparative analysis of BMI versus direct body fat measurements across diverse groups.

    • Main Results:

    • BMI can provide misleading information about body fat content in specific populations.
    • Examples include infancy, childhood, aging, racial/ethnic groups, athletes, and military personnel.
    • Weight loss, exercise, and physical training also impact the accuracy of BMI as a fatness indicator.

    Conclusions:

    • While BMI has utility, its limitations necessitate a shift towards direct body fat measurement standards.
    • Developing databases and standards for direct body fat measurement is crucial for accurate health assessment.
    • A gradual evolution beyond BMI is recommended for improved population health surveillance and individual patient care.