It wasn’t until 1972, when physiologist Dr. Ancel Keys proposed it as an estimate of body fat, that it got its more recognizable name: the body mass index, or BMI. Women tend to have more body fat than men, for example, and Asian people have more body fat than White people, according to a report supporting the AMA’s policy change. BMI also doesn’t account for where people carry fat, something that’s become a clear marker of health risk over the past few decades, Weiss said. “I do not believe that BMI as a measure itself is racist,” he continued. People in that category, he argued, “should qualify for obesity treatment.”And the AMA’s move shouldn’t be taken as direction for individuals to dismiss BMI completely, Ard said.

Source: Daily Sun June 19, 2023 21:34 UTC