The Truth about the Body Mass Index (BMI)
The Body Mass Index (BMI) has long been hailed as the ultimate measure of health and fitness. But guess what? It's time to bust that myth wide open!
🚫 Why this myth is unhelpful:
The BMI isn’t accurate on an individual level:
The BMI was invented by a Belgian mathematician nearly 200 years ago in the 19th century. He had the idea to create a quick way to approximate body composition at a population level (mainly white, middle/upper class, European men might I add!).
Then in 1972, an epidemiologist suggested that this formula was the most useful for measuring body shape and renamed it the BMI. At this time, the BMI was only accurate 50% of the time.
Then in 1992, the cut-off for the ‘ov*rweight’ category was changed from 27.8 to 25 which meant overnight, millions of people went from being in the healthy range to the ov*rweight range.
🌟 What you could do instead:
Notice your thoughts about other people: We are taught not to judge a book by its cover. BMI assumes we know someone's behaviours and health status based purely on their body size.
Focus on health away from the BMI (or your weight): Set goals around your energy, mood, strength and how you are feeling.
Remember that health doesn't have a “look” and it comes in all shapes and sizes.
😉 Toni’s Top Tip:
Your body is so much more than a number on a scale or a calculation!
You're worth so much more than any number!
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