Daily Times

Currently, a popular tool, BMI, is being applied to define whether people are fit or fat.

Body Mass Index (BMI) is used as a cardinal rule to determine body status or category whether they are normal weight, overweight or obese.

BMI calculations are based on one’s height or weight.

A particular number will identify the person in a particular category. But BMI does not consider many other factors of a human body, including bone density; muscle mass; sex or age group.

Athletes have a higher BMI as muscles weigh more than fat.

It’s hardly logical that one size fits all.

We have feared fat, not only for aesthetic reasons but also due to the established link between obesity and many diseases.

“The latest science is quite clear that excess weight can carry considerable health risks, including a higher risk for a heart attack and stroke,” said Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital Preventive Cardiology Director Dr Jorge Plutzky.

Trainers ruthlessly use BMI to disrupt and frustrate overall healthy lifestyle efforts

Gyms overrate BMI as a quick way to measure a client’s need to lose. Recently, BMI has come under fire around the world, as even doctors agree that BMI calculations are flawed; terming them as “imperfect tool.”

Trainers ruthlessly use BMI to disrupt and frustrate overall healthy lifestyle efforts. Due to the general perception of obesity-related diseases, gym-goers become anxious to lose weight.

Many weight management counsels encourage treacherous fad diets and new-fangled six-week challenge programs for quick slimming.

Christian Nordqvist wrote in Medical News Today, “A number of studies have demonstrated that some obese individuals have lower cardiovascular risk and an improved metabolic profile, while a subset of normal BMI people are metabolically unhealthy and have increased mortality risk.”

Thus, the latest researches back the premise that thin people with sedentary lifestyles have a mortality rate twice as high compared to overweight but moderately fit individuals.

Consequently, low BMI has become an alarming state.

But most gyms would not consider it a problem.

Humans need a certain amount of fat as a reserve. Going too low would jeopardise ones’ health far more as recovery from illnesses or everyday chores would be challenging.

Fitness is over-emphasised by gyms and can be taken too far. People can even take chemicals like steroids or hormones to look fit, resulting in enlarged hearts in later years.

Weight loss industry has become a mega business all over the world.

A Maverick mindset with the correct knowledge on the healthy body can ease the burden of cultural perceptions. Our fixation with celebrities with skinny body types simply promotes body shaming for children and adults. The vast majority of people needs to learn to be comfortable and confident in their own sizes.

A normal person goes up and down the weight scale in his/her lifespan. Author Dee Hakala said in “Thin is a Four Letter Word: Living Fit for All Shapes and Sizes,” “I eat healthy foods, I am happy, and I am moving my body every day–who cares if I don’t fit into those height and weight chart averages.”

The exercise was not a big deal until washing machines, vacuum cleaners, food delivery service and other convenience items were introduced. A good baseline for a healthy body is physical activity at least three times a week for 30 minutes. One should be able to walk a mile and not get fatigued and stay productive in the day. The ultimate goal must be health and happiness.

The writer is a wellness and yoga expert