BMI : Big Money for Insurance

People have finally begun to question the logic of BMI !!!!!!!

Decades ago, I went to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) with my best friend to join up.  He was nervous; I was cocky.  He was a skinny, 6 ft kid who could barely do three push ups. I could total over 1,200 lbs in three lifts at a body weight of 168 lbs.  We were both lean, but I was heavily muscled and only 5'4" tall.  You can imagine my surprise when he coasted through and I had to get a waiver for my weight.  I got the waiver because my body fat was only about 8% and the folks doing it literally told me it was formality.  They had strict rules in regards to BMI (Body Mass Index) but at least they were wise enough to acknowledge exceptions.  Not all organizations that use this ratio are so diligent.


The body mass index is used by countless organizations as a measure of obesity or health.  It is important to note that it was never intended for this use, but entities like insurance companies in the U.S. use it in underwriting and for points of reference to raise rates or deny service. The older you get the more you worry about insurance companies denying you service for the myriad of reasons they create.  So the fact that BMI is finally being recognized for what it is NOT is a welcome change to the previously blind acceptance.

Ten reasons BMI is Bogus!

BMI doesn't take muscle mass into account.  It is a simple weight / height squared ratio that makes it easier to do statistical analysis but does not show a strong correlation to health.  The fact is that all unhealthy, obese people have high BMI, but that doesn't mean that all people with high BMI are unhealthy and obese.

NPR did a relevant (though slightly fluffy) piece on BMI and adequately poked enough holes in the argument for its use that we should demand its removal from all records in this country.  I read through their top ten reasons BMI was bogus and number 10 is my favorite.  

In closing, I don't think that we should allow any of the institutions responsible for healing or insuring us to use illogically applied ratios or principles to categorize us.  It can only lead to more incompetence, which can only lead to a less healthy U.S.

Train hard and stay strong.