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Op-Ed Paper
Op-Ed Paper
English 110
Olivia Stoltman
4/14/19
Americans are known for being overweight, eating greasy food, and partaking in bad habits. In
fact, numerous studies back up this claim with statistics showing that more than 1 in 3
Americans are “overweight;” however, this statistic may not be as straightforward as it seems
(Overweight & Obesity Statistics). Most people are not even aware of what exactly classifies
someone as “overweight”. Most researchers and doctors use BMI readings or Body Mass Index
readings. BMI is calculated by taking weight over height squared to estimate the amount of body
fat (Overweight & Obesity Statistics). “Under 18.5 means you are underweight” if your number
is “between 18.5 and 24.9, you’re considered normal while a BMI of 30 or higher qualifies as
overweight.” (Sifferlin). To some these are more than just numbers, many people feel the need to
Now doctors are starting to criticize this method. They are starting to question if simply
using height and weight is enough to determine health. Using myself for an example. I take it
upon myself to make sure I utilize the gym daily, to opt for the healthier choices in my diet, and
to continually reach out to more knowledgeable friends on ways to be even healthier. Yet despite
this, when I get on the scale it is on the higher end of what is considered a “normal” weight. I
know I am not alone in finding myself on the wrong end of the scale. Therefore, I too find
myself questioning this method of health measurement. Using height and weight is not enough to
Body Mass Index is far from a new measurement. BMI was created in the 1830s by
explains that “during Quetelet's time there were no calculators, computers or electronic devices -
which is probably why he opted for a super-simple system. Trefethen wonders why institutions
today on both sides of the Atlantic continue using the same flawed-BMI formula.” (Nordqvist).
Medicine has come a long way since Quetelet, so why is this outdated tool still in use today?
Some doctors argue that BMI is a good indicator of health, because typically the more
body fat one has, the higher their weight is. One researcher found that “BMI tests offered similar
information and conclusions as the more complex X-Ray exam, suggesting BMI can measure
future health risks” (Naftulin). This can is true, however there are many exceptions which can
cause skewed results. In fact, a different study found that half of overweight adults were
considered metabolically healthy. Contrarily, one quarter of Americans who were deemed
healthy have one or more indicators associated with being overweight (Cupaiuolo). With these
One big issue is that BMI sometimes fails to precisely differentiate between fat and
muscle. Although muscle is denser and takes up less room in the body than fat it is still similar in
weight. If this measurement can sometimes fail to distinguish an Olympic athlete from a couch
potato, then is it really a good way to determine health? Another issue is that BMI fails to
recognize the type of fat. Belly fat is a visceral fat, which is much more problematic than fat
found underneath the skin. It is harmful because it sits around organs and releases hormones
Genetics can also skew height and weight. One individual can eat healthy and exercise
often but due to genetics are naturally heavier. Conversely, a different individual can eat poorly
and never exercise yet they still are naturally skinny. Muscle mass, bone density, overall body
composition, racial, and sex differences all play a large role in health, yet all of this is overlooked
With all the issues surrounding this system, why is BMI still used today? Well simply
put, it is easy and quick to measure. In large scales studies like the percent of a nation being
overweight, this is the most convenient way to get results. The only completely accurate way to
determine amount of fat is through X-rays and MRIs, which is expensive and time-consuming
(Shmerling). It can be understandable why more precise tools are not being used, however, there
is another option to increase accuracy, which is waist circumference. Studies prove that waist
circumference is strongly and independently associated with type 2 diabetes, therefore allowing
it to help with estimating an individual's risk for type 2 diabetes (Nordqvist). Therefore, taking
this into account along with height and weight can truly improve the accuracy.
There is another way to solve the inaccuracies of the body mass index. Refuse to allow
BMI to determine health and refuse to allow weight to control your life. Lifestyle choices are
what should be determining health. Exercising on a regular basis, making healthier diet choices,
and watching what else goes into your body can all lead to a healthier lifestyle. These are the
things to concern over; not what number is on the scale. However, if nothing else, something as
simple as measuring your waist circumference can really help determine your health. It is also
important to remember that this doesn’t just apply to people on the higher end of the scale, just
because the weight is in the ‘normal’ range doesn’t mean you are healthy. Weight being
acceptable does not prevent diseases and lifelong illnesses that come with being unhealthy. It is
Feuling 4
also crucial to think critically about how statistics like the percent of overweight Americans are
determined. One in three Americans may be “overweight” but how many Americans are
considered healthy? How many are fooled by the numbers? Don’t be fooled and don’t let weight
Works Cited
Cupaiuolo, Christine. “Study: Weight Not Necessarily an Indicator of Health.” Our Bodies
Ourselves, 12 Aug. 2008, www.ourbodiesourselves.org/2008/08/study-weight-not-
necessarily-an-indicator-of-health/.
Naftulin, Julia. “BMI May Be a Better Measure of Health than Previously Thought.” Insider, 12
Dec. 2018, www.thisisinsider.com/bmi-may-be-good-measure-health-2018-12.
Nordqvist, Christian. “Why BMI Is Inaccurate and Misleading.” Medical News Today,
MediLexicon International, 25 Aug. 2013, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles
/265215.php.
“Overweight & Obesity Statistics.” National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1 Aug. 2017,
www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/overweight-obesity.
Shmerling, Robert H. “How Useful Is the Body Mass Index (BMI)?” Harvard Health Blog, 28
Mar. 2016, www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-useful-is-the-body-mass-index-bmi-
201603309339.
Sifferlin, Alexandra. “Why BMI Isn't The Best Measure for Weight (or Health).” Time, 26 Aug.
2013, healthland.time.com/2013/08/26/why-bmi-isnt-the-best-measure-for-weight-or-
health/.