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People lie about weight in everyday situations for all sorts of reasons, but do they lie when participating in obesity research surveys? Probably — though maybe not intentionally. A new study from Ireland suggests many people are just bad at estimating their weight, height or BMI. More
A new study published in PLos One followed Irish adults and concluded that people are increasingly likely to underestimate their own body weight over time. So basically, people are bigger than they think they are. Not surprising, but still sigh-worthy. More
The formula used to calculate body mass index is flawed and skewed in favor of shorter people, says Oxford University mathematician Nick Trefethen. BMI is the standard tool used to assess healthy weight and the measure by which almost all obesity statistics are calculated. More
Countries in the developing world have seen an influx of obesity recently, yet those who are severely malnourished have been left out of this weight-gain momentum. A joint study from the University of Toronto and the Harvard School of Public Health shows that in low- and middle-income countries as diverse as Bangladesh, Guatemala, Kenya, Peru and Turkey, the obese and overweight residents are gaining weight rapidly while undernourished residents remain undernourished. More
Call me anxious, an over-thinker, a good old-fashioned worrywart … whichever term, it fits. I’m a classic Woody Allen-style neurotic — and it could be good for my health. A recent study found that conscientious neurotic people have lower body-mass indexes, fewer chronic health conditions and less markers of inflammation in their blood. More
Scientists have come up with a new formula that can accurately predict, at birth, whether a child will be obese. The formula, which you can access as an online calculator, estimates a newborn’s obesity risk based on his or her birth weight, the body mass index of the parents, the number of people in the household, the mother’s professional status and whether she smoked during pregnancy. In theory, this sounds great like a great health tool but I’m concerned about adding another worry to the already fierce pressures of new parenthood. More
We’ve already written about how Body Mass Index (BMI) is basically a sham (to put it nicely), but a new petition against Seventeen magazine’s online BMI calculator points out yet another way that the supposed health metric can get be so unhealthy. Not only does their BMI calculator encourage teen girls to measure health based purely on weight; it also enforces weight standards that are just flat-out unhealthy, at least if you go by BMI charts listed by the CDC. More
Over at Reddit’s TwoXChromosomes page, it’s “Image Fest Friday,” which has led to lots of awesome self-esteem and body image-themed threads that will leave you oozing with confidence. But one post in particular highlights another issue: Mainly, that BMI is bullshit…and terrible for body image. The post, from user daclamp, explains how bad she’d been feeling about her body…until she saw this photo of herself at a belly-dancing performance More
Researchers at the University of California, Davis claim that obesity—at least as measured byBMI—isn’t as much of a death threat as conventional beliefs would have us think. Their study, which is one of the most recent looks at BMI and mortality, mostly just proves that Body Mass Index is a poor measure of health, but the media seems to be coming to another conclusion: That being obese is favorable to being underweight, and possibly even healthy. Confused yet? More
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You know that BMI (body mass index) calculation that said you were overweight? It was wrong. But, before you rejoice, you should know that there’s a good chance it should have said you were obese instead.
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Lawmakers in Israel yesterday passed a law banning the use of ‘underweight’ models on catwalks or in commercials. Women and men seeking modeling jobs would have to be certified by a doctor as having a body mass index of no less than 18.5. I sympathize with the lawmaker’s intent, which is to reduce eating disorders and promote healthy body image. But measures like this are too invasive for my liking. And BMI is a bad measure for determining body size or overall health. More
Setting health and wellness goals is about much more than the number on a scale. For optimal results I recommend establishing your body composition and full range of body benchmarks to monitor your progress far more than simply watching the number on your scale. To help you do this, I created and outlined something I have fittingly called The Best Body Assessment (BBA) in both The Hormone Diet and The Supercharged Hormone Diet. It is a test that you can do in the comfort of your home that allows you to compile valuable information about your health, which you can then use to assist you with the creation of your wellness and body composition goals. More
In my time as an editor at Blisstree, I’ve been surprised to see heated debate between experts, writers and readers over the health implications of being obese. Like many, I assumed it was common knowledge that anyone within a certain weight range or body mass index (BMI) was unhealthy, and at serious risk of disease brought on by excess weight. Right? Wrong! Not everyone agrees. Especially not proponents of the Health At Every Size movement, which is based on the simple premise that healthy behaviors are more important than weight (no matter what the weight may be), and promotes healthy body image and a “no diet” policy. Is this thinking body positive? Yes. But is it avoiding the reality that excess body fat is the root of several health problems? Depends on who you talk to. More
A new study found that, if you’re trying to get pregnant, your chances are better if you’re overweight than too thin. But lest you think that Twinkies and Cheetos are hte next big thing in fertility treatment, keep in mind: The women who had the best chance of conceiving were those within the standard guidelines for healthy weight. More
