BMI is NOT an accurate measurement of Health

BMI is body mass index, meaning it is a calculated ratio between the weight and height of an individual. This is typically the number most people think about when estimating whether or not the body is a healthy weight. However, BMI does not always tell the whole story. BMI can be an inaccurate reflection of metabolic health because it does not consider the amount of fat and muscle mass within the body. Additionally, individuals with the same height and weight / BMI can have different body compositions and risk factors for weight-related health conditions.

“When thinking about weight, we usually think about BMI; however, this does not consider other things like subcutaneous vs. visceral fat, body fat, or skeletal mass,” says Erin Saltzman, MD. She further notes that BMI does not consider age, body composition, sex, or other health factors. While a patient’s BMI can be regarded as low or normal, total fat and visceral fat (the “bad fat,” which lies deep around internal organs) can be elevated, and muscle mass can be low. This means an individual can still be metabolically unhealthy despite a “normal” BMI. Conversely, an individual can be metabolically healthy with a “high” BMI.

 With the use of the InBody Body Composition Scale, Dr. Saltzman can determine her patients’ complete body composition, not just their BMI. With the InBody scale, we can break down the percentages of fat/visceral fat, muscle, and water for each patient. Analyzing all of these metabolic variables allows our Weight Loss Providers to gain a clear understanding of a patient’s body composition and metabolic health. This information enables her to customize unique treatment plans for each patient. These treatment plans are not only able to aid in weight and fat mass loss but also help with increasing muscle mass for optimal metabolic health.