Why the Body Mass Index is so Often Misleading, According to Doctors

Chances are at some point in your life, you and your doctor have discussed your body mass index (BMI) in relation to your health. Unfortunately, for many people (maybe you, too) these talks can be distressing, considering all the weight that those three little letters carry.

That’s because “the normative approach to healthcare right now is that BMI is one of the distinct measures of health,” says Maria C. Monge, M.D., an eating disorder specialist and the director of Adolescent Medicine at Dell Children’s Medical Center. Meaning: Whether your BMI is “too high,” “too low,” or “just right,” it supposedly says a lot about your physical well-being. However, many researchers are now saying that the BMI is actually a rather poor summary of how you’re doing health-wise.