Is the BMI the measure of all things?

It was not until a publication in 1972 mentioned the index, that scientists began using the formula again. At this point the formula was given the name ‘Body Mass Index’ which is still used today. Since the formula is easy to use and can inexpensively be determined, it has evolved into an important indicator for evaluating a patient’s state of health.

BMI = m/l² 
(m = body mass in kilograms; l = body length in metres)


How significant is the BMI really?

Since the BMI is easy to use, it is a common tool used in clinical life and medical research. It has become evident that BMI values outside of the norm (18,5 – 24,9) correlate to a large amount of illnesses. The threshold values were chosen randomly by the WHO in 1996 and it is open to dispute whether they really have a significant informative value to an individual’s state of health. The values disregard flexible influences such as age, gender or fitness level. The BMI can not be applied to children and adolescents without taking development percentiles into account, as they would be categorized as underweight. Current studies show that slight excess weight can work protectively for older people, potentially prolonging their life span.

In general, the BMI will not mention anything about body composition. An increased BMI might signify a higher body fat ratio, yet young and athletic people with a higher amount of muscle mass can have an increased BMI. For patients with ascites resulting from cancer or liver diseases, BMI can disguise life-threatening malnutrition conditions, as the excess liquids are included into the calculations.

Are there alternatives to BMI?

Further parameters such as the circumference of the stomach region or the waist-to-hip-ratio have to be taken into account for giving valid statements on a patient’s health status. These two parameters offer insights into the risk of falling ill to diabetes or cardiovascular diseases.

To determine an individual’s health and nutrition status, it is not the weight or BMI, but the body composition that matters. This value can be acquired by way of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). The seca mBCA is medically validated and offers precise and reliable measuring results. In only a few seconds, the device measures a patient’s weight and determines the body composition. For this, the device uses the different electrical characteristics of each tissue, distinguishing between body liquids and fat (as well as musclemass), and precisely identifying their ratios. The device not only determines the overall body fat, but can also differentiate between that and the more dangerous visceral fat cells. Another important parameter that the seca mBCA can calculate, is the phase angle, which is an indicator for the metabolism status and the patient’s state of nutrition.

The data acquired by the seca mBCA offers a comprehensive overview, enabling an precise calculation of the patient’s current health status. In time, the importance of the BMI will most likely fade away. The seca mBCA’s easy handling and precise results offer a better alternative to the BMI.

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