More than 75% of US adults may be obese
Years ago, a gym I worked for purchased a machine that could analyze a person’s body fat percentage, lean muscle mass, cellular hydration levels, and body mass index (BMI).
The gym’s trainers, myself included, were excited to use the machine and learn about our various data points. Studying my printout, I was surprised by one piece of data, in particular—my BMI. It indicated that I was not just overweight, but borderline obese.
Then I remembered from studying for my first trainer certification how the BMI is based on weight, height, and sex, and doesn’t consider what the weight is comprised of, whether fat or muscle.
Though the BMI was originally developed in the 1830s, it would be more than 100 years before it became widely accepted as a health marker by the medical industry.
Given its inherent and significant flaws, namely body fat, muscle, and metabolic health omission, many health professionals have sought alternatives.
Additional measurements, including the waist circumference-to-height ratio, known as the Body Roundness Index (BRI), and the waist-to-hip ratios, are now more frequently incorporated into patient diagnostics. This provides physicians with vital information, offering a more complete and accurate picture.
However, distressing findings have come from a study conducted by The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Commission. By coupling the BMI with waist-to-hip ratios and the BRI, the percentage of US adults with obesity leaped from 40% to an estimated 75.2%.
Further highlighting the shortcomings of the BMI as a standalone measure, the study found that nearly 4 in 10 adults with normal BMI readings actually had excess body fat when waist-based measures were used.
The health implications of this study are shocking. What may follow from medical and life insurance companies is equally troubling. If the revised obesity criteria are adopted, these companies can likely deny coverage to more applicants, cancel policies, and further increase already rising premium costs.
You can learn more about the study’s findings, the BMI, and the new measurement criteria in this article from ABC News:
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/75-us-adults-meet-criteria-obesity-new-def...
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Evangel
Thanks for posting this interesting article. You mention the new waist-to hip ratios used to measure obesity, but not what the healthy waist-to-hip ratio actually is. That info would be helpful to know.
Well Street
Great point, Evangel.
For women, a healthy/low-risk ratio is 0.85 or less, while for men, 0.90 or less.
To determine your ratio, wrap a tape measure around the waist at navel level, and then again around the widest part of the buttocks. Divide the waist number by the hip number.
For example: Waist 36 inches, Hips 40 inches
36 divided by 40 = 0.90
Evangel
Thanks. I'm good.
Slipstream
It's hard for people to pass up all the goodies they see advertised on TV, most of which are fast foods or ultra-processed food. The burgers are stacked high with meat and bacon and dripping with cheese. Makes me want to head to my closest drive-thru.
I can't remember seeing carrots, celery, broccoli, asparagus, or even Romaine full frame in prime time, nor an apple, pear, or orange—unless it's a jug of fake orange juice. No wonder obesity is at 75%; how could it not be.