To the average person, BMI is probably the easiest measure to calculate (although hip to waist ratio is relatively easy). The problem is that people who do work out will have lower body fat content, but still have a high BMI. Many researchers in this area focus on BMI almost exclusively as well (I'm not in my office otherwise I would give the references). Most research does look at obesity (which starts at 30 BMI - overweight is at 25).
Stuart Vyse wrote: >Dear TIPSters, > >At the risk of igniting more debate (not all bad, I suppose), I will >repost below the comment I posted about this story on the NPR web site. > >SV > > > Stuart Vyse (stuartvyse) wrote: > >The author makes arguments that miss the point of the CDC's use of >BMI, and, unfortunately, he provides further amununition for the food >and beverage industries, which have waged a long campaign against the >BMI. > >The BMI is a useful measure because it takes data that is readily >available to most people (their height and weight) and turns it into a >rough (admittedly, rough) estimate of the appropriateness of their >weight. Better measures would require more cumbersome techniques >which, as a practical matter, would probably never be used by the >great majority of people. Opportunity missed. > >It is easy to poke holes in the BMI. Lots of examples of errors have >been provided in the comments and elsewhere. But I would turn the >question around. > >Is there a better measure of appropriateness of weight that can be >easily calculated using data that is readily available to virtually >every American citizen? If so, what? If the goal is education, the >information must get to the individual. BMI does this very effectively. > >There is little question America has a weight problem. > >To see how the food and beverage industries have waged war against the >BMI, see this industry-funded (check Wikipedia) website: > >http://www.consumerfreedom.com/index.cfm > >Sun Jul 5 22:10:59 2009 > > >Stuart Vyse >Professor of Psychology Web: http://stuartvyse.com >Connecticut College Email: [email protected] >270 Mohegan Avenue Phone: 860-439-2339 >New London, CT 06320 Fax: 860-439-5300 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >--- >To make changes to your subscription contact: > >Bill Southerly ([email protected]) > ---------------------------------- Deb Dr. Deborah S. Briihl Dept. of Psychology and Counseling Valdosta State University 229-333-5994 [email protected] --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
