Fitness in Theory – Episode 26: Don’t Use the BMI Scale

FiT Podcast Episode 26 BMI
23 Jun

Last Updated on January 8, 2025 by Michael Brockbank

The BMI scale, or Body Mass Index, is a completely flawed method for tracking personal physique. A lot of people put too much stock into the BMI during their weight loss journey. However, it can give you a false sense of what is a good weight.

One of the most common comparisons I use when talking about the BMI is using Dwayne Johnson as a model. Did you know that according to the BMI scale, “The Rock” is more obese than I am?

That’s because the BMI takes into consideration two factors: height and weight. It doesn’t factor in any muscle development or bone density. So, a “healthy” weight according to the BMI would mean I would look like a starving scarecrow.

It’s an unhealthy measurement that people need to stop focusing on for their weight loss goals.

Other Ways to Measure Weight Loss

As we cover in this episode of Fitness in Theory, there are a lot of other ways you can measure weight loss. Before and after photos are among my favorite. You can also go by how your clothes fit, or take note of the improvements in physical prowess.

I know that I can pick up heavier objects around the house without grunting compared to my physique from 10 years ago. Not to mention that I’ve had to re-tie my pajama bottoms quite a bit over the past few years.

The point is that the BMI scale is one of the worst things you can use when trying to determine a healthy weight for yourself. There are simply too many variables at play for the BMI to be of any practical use.

Don’t Stress About BMI

Remember, the BMI is nothing more than a number that was created in the late 1800s, when men and women were smaller overall. Plus, they didn’t know about many of the physical attributes that make up a person’s weight back then.

Also, keep in mind that you’re putting yourself against something created more than a hundred years ago. Do you still use telegraphs to send a message to friends? Knowledge evolves, and the BMI is simply an example of clinging to a calculation that has been disproven time and time again.

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