Disclaimer: This is an opinion article for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Readers should consult their healthcare providers before making any decisions about diagnosis or treatment.

Introduction. For decades, doctors, policymakers, & the public have relied on one simple calculation to assess health: the Body Mass Index (BMI).. But does this number really tell us anything about health? The answer is increasingly clear: NO. BMI is not a health parameter. It is a statistical relic that misclassifies millions of people, ignores biology, & distracts us from the real issue: adult weight gain after early adulthood.

Origins of BMI:

A Misapplied Tool BMI was introduced in the 1830s by Adolphe Quetelet, a Belgian mathematician and statistician. Quetelet was not a doctor, nor was he inte ...