Body Mass Index (BMI): Is It Really Accurate? Better Alternatives
Author: Feras Alayed
Published:
Updated:
Category: weight-management
Reading Time: 12 minutes
Key Takeaways
- BMI does not differentiate between muscle and fat
- Waist circumference is more accurate for predicting heart disease and diabetes
- Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) is currently the best measure
- Metabolic health matters more than the number on the scale
What is BMI?
Body Mass Index is a simple formula: Weight (kg) / Height (m)². Useful as a population screening tool but has significant limitations for individual health assessment.