A recent study calls into question the body mass index (BMI) as a reliable indicator of health. According to the authors, people who are overweight according to BMI do not have an increased risk of death, unlike obese people. The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, highlights the importance of other measures, such as the distribution of excess body fat, in assessing health status. Although BMI is widely used in the medical field, it is increasingly considered a limited tool.
The study analyzed data from more than 550,000 U.S. adults over a 20-year period and found that overweight people (BMI between 25 and 30) did not have an increased risk of death compared to people with a lower BMI. normal (between 22.5 and less than 25). However, the risk of death increased significantly in people with a BMI less than 20 or equal to or greater than 30 (obese).
The researchers emphasize that other factors such as measuring waist circumference, bone and muscle density must be taken into account to assess health status. Although diseases related to being overweight, such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease, remain associated with health problems, BMI alone does not provide a complete picture of a person's health.
It should also be noted that medical advances in the treatment of obesity-related illnesses may influence the relationship between weight and mortality. While some previous studies have linked being overweight to an increased risk of death, this new study suggests that the relationship between weight and mortality may change over time.
In summary, although BMI is a simple and commonly used tool, it should not be considered the only indicator of health. Other measurements and factors must be taken into account to more accurately assess a person's health status.
 Pascal Lemontel
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07/07/2023 | 
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