The body mass index (BMI) may not be the most accurate predictor of death risk.
A new study from the University of Florida found that BMI is a commonly used measure. Healthy range Because of their height – “deeply flawed” in terms of predicting mortality.
Instead, I concluded a study published this week in the Family Medicine Chronicles that my body fat levels are “more accurate.”
BMI is the wrong way to measure obesity, researchers say
To measure participant body fat, the researchers used a method called bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). This uses a device to measure body tissue resistance to a small current.
Over the course of 15 years, people with high body fat are found to be 78% more likely to die than those who had it Healthy body fat levelsa researcher discovered.
They were also more than three times more likely to die from heart disease, the study noted.
BMI is calculated by dividing weight by height and squared, but for all reasons it was described as “completely unreliable” when predicting the risk of death over a 15-year period.
The study included 4,252 people in the United States and extracted data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey.
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BMI should not be relied on as a “Vital Sign” for health, according to Frank Orlando, M.D., medical director of Springhill’s UF Health Family Medicine.
“I am a family doctor and regularly face patients with diabetes, heart disease, obesity and other conditions. It is related to obesity“Orlando said in a research press release.
“One of the routine measures we take alongside traditional vital signs is our BMI. We use BMI to screen people with body composition issues, but they are not as accurate as vital signs,” he added.
Many sources say that BMI has been the international standard for measuring obesity since the 1980s, but some experts have questioned its validity.
Individuals are considered obese if their BMI is 30 or higher, overweight if they are 25-29.9, “normal” weights in the range of 18.5-24.9, or weight loss if they are below 18.5.
BMI is easy to calculate, but one of its main limitations is that it cannot be distinguished between Muscle and fat massthe researchers pointed out.
“For example, someone who is a bodybuilder can really boost their body mass index,” Orlando said. “But they are healthy even if they show that their BMI is obese.”
“BMI is very ingrained in the way you think about body fat,” added Mainous. “I think this research shows that it’s time to go to alternatives that have proven to be far better at work.”
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Other methods, such as DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorption Measurement) scans, may be even more accurate than BIA, but are much more expensive and inaccessible, researchers say.
“When you talk to obesity researchers, they’ll say you have to use it. Dexa Scan In the release, Mainous said, because it is the most accurate. However, it is never feasible in the doctor’s office or in the family practice. ”
Dr. Stephen Vogel – Primary Care, Treatment, and Weight control Options – Repeated BMI limit.
“It was a simple measurement tool that helped us understand the risky groups of different populations and demographics, but it doesn’t provide accurate patient-to-patient data,” a North Carolina-based doctor who wasn’t involved in the study told Fox News Digital.
“These findings do not challenge assumptions about BMI. The new standards provided at a consistent, low cost reinforce the message that they provide better nuance to individuals when it comes to overall physical health.”
“The main strength of this study is the better correlation with individual risks Morbidity and mortality rates -However, there is a limit to the fact that there is not enough data to determine the right cutoff for these numbers or that there is not enough data to identify the right tools that are accurate and accurate across the population,” Vogel said.
The researchers also acknowledged that body fat percentage thresholds are not yet as standardized as BMI or waist circumference.
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Additionally, the age range of participants in the study was limited by data sources.
“Future studies should expand the comparison of body fat with BMI in older adults,” the researchers wrote.
Additionally, this study was limited by focusing solely on mortality, they noted, without considering developing diseases. heart failure Or cancer – it could help you understand body fat as a risk factor.
According to Vogel, the goal is to have a cost-effective and consistent method that can be used across the population with reliable accuracy.
“The benefits are provided in the form of a more detailed information list that helps providers and patients make informed decisions. Patient healthit’s ideal,” Vogel said.
“I hope there is enough talk about these measures and that they will continue to be taken towards regular implementation.”
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Researchers hope that once the standards are verified, measuring body fat percentage with bioelectrical impedance analysis could become standard care.
They said, “These data not only encourage better discussions in the doctor’s office, but also promote better discussions. Public Health Initiative The goal is to improve all your health. ”
