Proposed BMI Changes Raise Concerns and Frustration
A proposed change to the body mass index (BMI) has met with resistance from campaigners, experts, and eating disorder survivors. According to the current guidelines, a “healthy” BMI score ranges from 18.5 to 24.9, with 25 to 29.9 being classified as “overweight” and 30 and above deemed “obese”.
However, researchers from Italy propose lowering the range for people over 40 to just 27. NHS data reveals that most Brits over 40 have an average BMI score between 27.6 and 28.8, which means that if the changes were implemented, a majority of UK adults would be labeled “obese”.
The authors of the study, presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Venice in May, contend that the current BMI threshold for obesity “may not be appropriate” for older adults. They conducted body scans on 4,800 Italian women and men over the age of 40 to assess the correlation between body fat levels and BMI range.
Interestingly, 38% of the men and 41% of the women in the study had a BMI of 30 or more, yet 71% of the men and 64% of the women had a worrying level of body fat, which, they argued, was not reflected in their BMI score. Based on these findings, the study’s authors suggest that moving the “obese” range of BMI down to 27 would better represent the body fat levels of those participants.
However, many are opposed to the proposal, believing that BMI is an inaccurate measurement that fails to consider lifestyle, diet, or other health issues. Clinical hypnotherapist Josephine Knechtli asserts that attaching a number to individuals without considering these factors is not supportive. Others, like eating disorder awareness campaigner Cara Lisette, are concerned about the impact on those in recovery. She worries that reclassifying BMI brackets could intensify the negative self-image of individuals struggling with eating disorders and limit their access to necessary care and support.
Critics also question the accuracy of BMI and its use as a sole indicator of health. Journalist and author Beth Ashley contends that the focus should be on promoting overall health rather than thinness, emphasizing that fat does not necessarily equate to unhealthy and thinness does not always indicate healthiness.
Public reaction to the proposal has been largely negative. Alison Joyce expressed frustration, fearing that women’s health concerns will be further ignored. Jacqui, who had successfully lost weight after menopause, questioned the value of her efforts if the goalposts were moved again.
She also shared her perspective as someone in recovery from an eating disorder, acknowledging that the proposed change could trigger harmful behaviors. Eating disorder support organization Beat encourages anyone concerned about themselves or loved ones to contact them for guidance and support in seeking appropriate treatment.
Dr. Eleanor Draeger advocates for scrapping BMI altogether, while Beth Ashley’s tweet summarizes the sentiments of many: “We all know BMI is b*llocks but doesn’t the fact that they can just change the answers in this way prove it was never based on anything accurately mathematical?”
While these changes could significantly impact many, the conference emphasized the need for a larger-scale study from diverse global regions to confirm the results.
