Despite growing criticism, many doctors continue to defend the Body Mass Index (BMI) as a quick and effective tool for assessing whether individuals are a healthy weight. BMI, calculated by dividing an adult's weight by the square of their height, is widely used in clinics due to its simplicity and accuracy for most people.
Professor Naveed Sattar from the University of Glasgow stated, 'It works in the vast majority of people, the vast majority of the time. If two people are the same height and one has a BMI of 25 and the other a BMI of 40, then excess body fat is the reason.' He emphasised that BMI is a reliable indicator of excess body fat in most cases.
Critics argue that BMI can be misleading for certain individuals, such as athletes with high muscle mass or people of Asian descent, who may have higher health risks at lower BMI thresholds. For Asian populations, a healthy BMI range is 18.5–23, compared to the standard 18.5–24.9.
Despite these limitations, doctors maintain that BMI remains the best method available, as it is accurate, easy to measure, and acceptable to patients. It is also considered less embarrassing than measuring waist circumference, another useful guide for assessing obesity-related health risks.
National surveys indicate that the majority of adults in all parts of the UK are overweight, obese, or very obese. Individuals concerned about their weight or overall health are advised to consult a healthcare professional.
