Your BMI Missing Important Health Signs, Study of 4.2M Adults Finds
A study in Science Bulletin of more than 4.2 million adults aged 35 to 75 compared 15 body and metabolic measurements. It found BMI was not the best predictor for several diseases, though no single measure reliably predicted who would fall ill.
Your BMI may be missing important signs about your health, according to a study published in Science Bulletin that analyzed data from more than 4.2 million adults aged 35 to 75. Researchers found that other measurements flagged the risk of heart disease and diabetes better than body mass index alone.
BMI is one of the most commonly used tools for assessing weight-related health risk. It is calculated from height and weight, so it says little about what is happening inside the body.
Two people can have the same BMI and very different health profiles. One may carry more muscle, the other more body fat. One may have healthy blood sugar and cholesterol, while the other already shows metabolic problems.
The researchers followed participants for about five years. They tracked who developed serious conditions linked to heart disease, diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease.
Instead of relying on BMI, they compared 15 measurements of body size, body fat and metabolic health. Some were simple, such as waist measurements. Others looked at where fat accumulates or used blood tests, including blood sugar and triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood.
No single measure won across the board.
For cardiovascular disease, a measurement that estimates visceral fat performed best. Visceral fat is stored deep in the abdomen, around organs such as the liver and intestines. Excess amounts are associated with inflammation, insulin resistance and a higher risk of heart disease.
For diabetes, a measurement combining triglycerides and blood sugar did better. The two markers offer clues about how well the body responds to insulin, the hormone that helps regulate blood sugar.
A measurement of body shape performed relatively better for chronic lung disease. None of the 15 measurements was particularly good at identifying cancer risk.
The gains were modest. None of the measurements could reliably predict who would develop a disease, and even the best performers offered only small improvements in identifying risk.
Four measurements to know
You do not need complicated body fat scores or an expensive body composition scan to get a fuller picture, according to the report. Some of the most useful numbers may already be in your medical records.
The four it highlights are waist circumference, blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides, and blood pressure. Waist size gives extra insight into abdominal fat. A fasting glucose or A1c test shows how well the body manages blood sugar and whether there is a risk of prediabetes or diabetes.
A standard blood test reports the fats circulating in the blood. Blood pressure can be high at any body size, and keeping it in a healthy range is among the most important ways to protect the heart.
Anyone unsure where they stand can raise these measurements at their next annual physical.
Take the quizWhat Kind of Holiday Spender Are You? Take the Black Friday QuizStart →- 1Column: 4 Reasons to Eat Dark Chocolate, Dietitians Say
- 2Mavericks Surfers Race to California for Waves Near 50 Feet
- 3Chrissie Swan, 52, Tears Up Over Secret Surprise While Recovering
- 4Meghan Markle Plans US Return to See Mother After Father’s Arrest
- 5Aspyn Ovard Reveals Daughter Has Terminal Cancer on Mormon Wives
Lifestyle · Food & HealthThanksgiving Food Safety: How Long Leftovers Last and the Safe Turkey Temperature
Lifestyle7 Quiet Habits of Emotionally Intelligent People, According to Psychologists
LifestylePeople Who Don’t Like Celebrating Their Birthday Often Share These 7 Traits
Lifestyle · Food & HealthVitamin D in Winter: Do You Need a Supplement, and How Much?
