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DYK: the LOWEST risk of mortality is in people with a BMI of 25-29.9 (aka "overweight").
Next lowest risk: a tie between people with a BMI of 30-34.9 (aka "obese") and people with a "normal" BMI of 20-24.9.
Then: BMI >35
Highest risk: people with BMI <18.5 (aka "underweight")
Next lowest risk: a tie between people with a BMI of 30-34.9 (aka "obese") and people with a "normal" BMI of 20-24.9.
Then: BMI >35
Highest risk: people with BMI <18.5 (aka "underweight")
Hm so interesting because while so many fat folks get accused of "promoting disease and death" when they post photos of their bodies, I don't see us saying the same to supermodels...
Oh right, because it's not about health - it's about fatphobia.
Oh right, because it's not about health - it's about fatphobia.
(BTW: this is called the “Obesity Paradox”… and it’s only considered a “paradox” because researchers, with their weight bias, expected the opposite to be true)
More reasons why the BMI is BS:
- The original formula was created by an astronomer/mathematician who was trying to categorize populations (not measure the health of individuals)
- The data for the BMI was based on data exclusively from a white, European, male population.
- The original formula was created by an astronomer/mathematician who was trying to categorize populations (not measure the health of individuals)
- The data for the BMI was based on data exclusively from a white, European, male population.
Reasons why the BMI is BS continued:
-The differences between BMI categories are largely arbitrary and not based on any science
-In 1998 the NIH adjusted the BMI categories so 37 million Americans went to bed having a “normal” BMI and woke up the next day “overweight.”
-The differences between BMI categories are largely arbitrary and not based on any science
-In 1998 the NIH adjusted the BMI categories so 37 million Americans went to bed having a “normal” BMI and woke up the next day “overweight.”
Reasons why the BMI is BS cont:
-People w/“obese” BMI w/type 2 diabetes, high BP, & CKD live LONGER than lower BMI ppl w/same conditions
-People over 55 with a BMI in “overweight” & “obese” categories had LOWER risk of death compared to people with “normal” & “underweight” BMI
-People w/“obese” BMI w/type 2 diabetes, high BP, & CKD live LONGER than lower BMI ppl w/same conditions
-People over 55 with a BMI in “overweight” & “obese” categories had LOWER risk of death compared to people with “normal” & “underweight” BMI
Last but most certainly not least: labels like ‘overweight’ & ‘obese’ pathologize bodies, assigning illness based on size and size alone.
This is stigmatizing & can cause stress, anxiety & so much shame (none of which are motivators for behavior change BTW, the opposite in fact)
This is stigmatizing & can cause stress, anxiety & so much shame (none of which are motivators for behavior change BTW, the opposite in fact)
Ok I could keep going but cutting it off here for now.
To read more check out this blog: http://www.alissarumsey.com/haes/the-problem-with-the-bmi/
To read more check out this blog: http://www.alissarumsey.com/haes/the-problem-with-the-bmi/
To all those linking research & asking for my “sources”:
1- sources are in the blog
2- vast majority of health/weight research does NOT control for weight bias (aka bias against higher weights). Problematic as we know weight stigma is independent risk factor for disease
1- sources are in the blog
2- vast majority of health/weight research does NOT control for weight bias (aka bias against higher weights). Problematic as we know weight stigma is independent risk factor for disease
3. Remember folks, fatphobia was a thing HUNDREDS of years before health research began. Which means the people doing the research already had a bias against fatness. So how they set up, ran, and evaluated their data was all thru a lens of weight bias.
Like those citing the Look Ahead study as “see weight loss works/is possible”! Um did you really read that research? Cause if you did you’d see that the trial was STOPPED EARLY FOR FUTILITY. Yes people were losing weight, but no impact on the subjects health/disease markers.
