BMI: Why We Still Use It (Even Though It Kinda Sucks)
BMI is outdated, oversimplified, and let’s face it, kinda flawed. Created in the 1800s by a mathematician (not a doctor), it doesn’t account for muscle, fat distribution, or actual health markers. So why are we still using it in 2025? Two words: insurance requirements. In this post, we break down why BMI misses the mark, why it’s still sticking around, and what we should really be focusing on instead.
BMI is outdated, oversimplified, and let’s face it, kinda flawed. Created in the 1800s by a mathematician (not a doctor), it doesn’t account for muscle, fat distribution, or actual health markers. So why are we still using it in 2025? Two words: insurance requirements. In this post, we break down why BMI misses the mark, why it’s still sticking around, and what we should really be focusing on instead.
Let’s be honest: BMI is outdated. It was created in the 1800s by a mathematician (not a doctor) and yet here we are, in 2025, still using it to determine who’s “healthy” and who isn’t. If that sounds a bit...off to you, you’re not alone.
So What Is BMI Anyway?
BMI (Body Mass Index) is a formula that uses your height and weight to give you a number, which then puts you in a category:
Underweight
Normal
Overweight
Obese
It’s simple. Too simple. Because…
It doesn’t distinguish between fat and muscle.
That means an Olympic sprinter with 5% body fat could be labeled “overweight.” Make it make sense.
It ignores where fat is stored.
All fat is not created equal. Visceral fat (around your organs) is a bigger health risk than subcutaneous fat (under your skin), but BMI doesn’t care.
It was built using data from white, European men.
Which means it doesn't apply equally across genders, ethnicities, or body types.
It doesn’t measure actual health markers.
You can have a “normal” BMI and still be at risk for metabolic diseases or have a higher BMI and be perfectly healthy.
If It’s So Flawed, Why Do We Still Use It?
Because (sigh)... insurance companies still rely on it.
It’s frustrating, but most insurance providers require BMI for coverage, risk assessment, and even things like approving surgery or accessing certain benefits. While we’d love to toss it out the window, we keep because...we have to.
TL;DR
BMI might be a starting point but it should never be the whole story.
And if insurance catches up with the times? We’ll be first in line to say goodbye to the BMI chart hanging in the metaphorical doctor’s office.
PS: If you’ve ever felt judged by your BMI number you're not alone, and you're not defined by it. Let's focus on what actually matters: how you feel, function, and thrive.
Let’s be honest: BMI is outdated. It was created in the 1800s by a mathematician (not a doctor) and yet here we are, in 2025, still using it to determine who’s “healthy” and who isn’t. If that sounds a bit...off to you, you’re not alone.
So What Is BMI Anyway?
BMI (Body Mass Index) is a formula that uses your height and weight to give you a number, which then puts you in a category:
Underweight
Normal
Overweight
Obese
It’s simple. Too simple. Because…
It doesn’t distinguish between fat and muscle.
That means an Olympic sprinter with 5% body fat could be labeled “overweight.” Make it make sense.
It ignores where fat is stored.
All fat is not created equal. Visceral fat (around your organs) is a bigger health risk than subcutaneous fat (under your skin), but BMI doesn’t care.
It was built using data from white, European men.
Which means it doesn't apply equally across genders, ethnicities, or body types.
It doesn’t measure actual health markers.
You can have a “normal” BMI and still be at risk for metabolic diseases or have a higher BMI and be perfectly healthy.
If It’s So Flawed, Why Do We Still Use It?
Because (sigh)... insurance companies still rely on it.
It’s frustrating, but most insurance providers require BMI for coverage, risk assessment, and even things like approving surgery or accessing certain benefits. While we’d love to toss it out the window, we keep because...we have to.
TL;DR
BMI might be a starting point but it should never be the whole story.
And if insurance catches up with the times? We’ll be first in line to say goodbye to the BMI chart hanging in the metaphorical doctor’s office.
PS: If you’ve ever felt judged by your BMI number you're not alone, and you're not defined by it. Let's focus on what actually matters: how you feel, function, and thrive.
Let’s be honest: BMI is outdated. It was created in the 1800s by a mathematician (not a doctor) and yet here we are, in 2025, still using it to determine who’s “healthy” and who isn’t. If that sounds a bit...off to you, you’re not alone.
So What Is BMI Anyway?
BMI (Body Mass Index) is a formula that uses your height and weight to give you a number, which then puts you in a category:
Underweight
Normal
Overweight
Obese
It’s simple. Too simple. Because…
It doesn’t distinguish between fat and muscle.
That means an Olympic sprinter with 5% body fat could be labeled “overweight.” Make it make sense.
It ignores where fat is stored.
All fat is not created equal. Visceral fat (around your organs) is a bigger health risk than subcutaneous fat (under your skin), but BMI doesn’t care.
It was built using data from white, European men.
Which means it doesn't apply equally across genders, ethnicities, or body types.
It doesn’t measure actual health markers.
You can have a “normal” BMI and still be at risk for metabolic diseases or have a higher BMI and be perfectly healthy.
If It’s So Flawed, Why Do We Still Use It?
Because (sigh)... insurance companies still rely on it.
It’s frustrating, but most insurance providers require BMI for coverage, risk assessment, and even things like approving surgery or accessing certain benefits. While we’d love to toss it out the window, we keep because...we have to.
TL;DR
BMI might be a starting point but it should never be the whole story.
And if insurance catches up with the times? We’ll be first in line to say goodbye to the BMI chart hanging in the metaphorical doctor’s office.
PS: If you’ve ever felt judged by your BMI number you're not alone, and you're not defined by it. Let's focus on what actually matters: how you feel, function, and thrive.