BMI is Dumb! Measure this Instead [Waist:Height Ratio]

BMI (Body Mass Index) has been used for years as a measure of obesity and metabolic health. BMI can be very inaccurate for these purposes in many people. A much better measurement that is easier to calculate called the Waist:Height Ratio is much more accurate, even for the very tall, very short, very muscular, and different ethnicities.

Research:



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[Hannah-pchg]

Finally somebody who said it. Bmi doesn’t tell us anything about body composition.
With my muscles I would easily turn out as overweight, even though I’m not.

[lisa-marie]

Yup! I was a Weight Watcher coach years ago -20yrs, and I can't believe I lived like that, counting and relying on a BMI - thank goodness I found you!

[jimjoelliejack]

I’m in 🇬🇧, I gave up alcohol and started eating meat only on January 1, the weight is falling off me, my asthma has got to a point that I don’t need inhalers, my basal metabolic pulse at night can drop to 49 bpm! My skin on the back of my hands has recoil again, I don’t snore anymore. Ken thanks for telling the world about the truth of what crap we are generally eating. 👍

[jolantagoetter]

Agree 100%!!! I’m 6’1 and 208 lb former pro athlete female. And this stupid bmi show that I’m overweight 🙄 My bone structure is more like male… so, I just ignore this dumb way of judgment. I’m happy with my jeans size 32X34 being 61 yo. 😉

[grog]

At one time I was on the Dr's obesity chart. 6'3" and 250 lbs. Lifted weights daily, as I do now. closer to when I was varsity rugby. I don't pay attention to charts or some Dr.'s, thanks for what you do Dr. Berry.

[iSparkFU]

well crap.
I need to be 7 feet 6 inches tall.

[KevinMcCormick-ki]

7 weeks into my carnivore diet and I’ve lost 30 pounds! My waist to height ratio for the first time is below 0.50 at 0.49. It feels great being under the 200 pound mark now. Thanks for this info on waist to height ratio Doc as the BMI is really the “Bullshit Meter Index” ! Thanks for all you do Dr Berry. Good luck everyone! Best of health!

[jageitos]

I couldn’t agree with you more Dr. Berry. I’m 55 years old, 5 foot nine and weigh 215 pounds. However, I’ve been bodybuilding for six years and carnivore for two years. I have amassed significant muscle. I measure my body fat with a body fat caliper and I am sub 12% body fat. According to the BMI, I am morbidly obese, according to my pictures and the body fat caliper I am super fit. By the way, I met you in San Antonio about a year ago at the barbecue get together where we took a pic together.

[tinaroderick]

Wow. So happy this video popped up for me. I've been carnivore for a few months. Love this way of life! But not much success on the scale. At my recent physical my doctor said I am perfectly healthy. 65 year old woman. NO MEDS! Perfect blood pressure. Endless energy. Do physical work like a 30 year old all day. BUT....that damn scale. I spend a lot of time wondering if I need to "try something different" to get that scale down. For now Dr Berry, I'm going to stay off the scale and hold onto my perfect waist to height ratio of .5! Thank you. I feel like I can let all that garbage go and just continue to live my best life. You are a national gem! ❤️

[bastidface]

I trust Dr. Berry more and more, because he obviously does his research and makes honest common sense of it.

[rochellet]

THANK YOU for finally confirming this! I knew it didn't make sense to have the same chart for men and women.

[thefilersjourney]

I worked with a gal years ago who was upset. Her husband's doctor told him he was "obese" because of his BMI. The fact that this man was very lean, ate "healthy foods", worked out every day and was extremely muscular (grossly muscular in mho) didn't change that. He was baffled at how his doc came to the conclusion he was obese. He was avg height. I've come to the conclusion his doctor was delusional.

[LimitLessLindy]

2 years ago I was over 770+ lbs (ERR on scales). I've lost 495 lbs and I'm currently 275 lbs. I was housebound, type 2 diabetic, and suffered with hypothyroidism, lymphedema, lipedema, mobility & balance issues, depression, anxiety, severe periodontial disease, migraines, neuropathy in my feet, and failing eyesight.

I use one of those smart scales (now that I can weigh myself!) that gives me all the stats - BMI, bone density, body water, etc. As mentioned, I have lymphedema & lipedema - I can easily drop 4-8 lbs overnight in fluid. I also have a lot of lipedema fat which can be improved with diet but not lost. So how does BMI take those factors out of the equation (it doesn't).

I lost my weight following a strict Carnivore diet. Measuring is still an issue for me as I have so much loose skin. After meeting with a surgeon about skin removal surgery he said he could conservatively remove around 45 lbs of skin. So if he uses that weight on my record then I would be under the BMI required to attend a normal hospital, as there are restrictions for people over a certain BMI (me with loose skin on!). I've come so far, but still so far away. Just another hurdle I intend to jump over!! :)

[hollybishop]

Omgosh!! Thank you!! The BMI makes me so frustrated when people use it for me. I'm a woman, and only 5'9, but am actually built with big, thick bones. Yes! I'm actually big boned! My MINIMUM weight is 185lbs, not 120. I'd have to start chopping limbs off to get that small. My Dr is great because she said they added a button for those who are very muscular on their BMI chart and she uses that for me. Now, I totally admit that I have weight to loose, especially after 6 pregnancies, but it isn't over 100lbs, more like 30-40. But trying to use any BMI calculation is a waste of time for people like me.

[stevopowell]

I remember my father, of blessed memory, telling me back in the 80’s that my waist shouldn’t be larger than my inseam.

[TruthandJustice_]

Thank you, Dr. Berry. Finally, someone speaking truth about the body from the inside out.
I’ve also started seeing a functional medicine/holistic dentist who approaches the mouth the same way.❤

[deedeeasten]

🎉🎉I dont think you could possibly know how much you are adored Dr. B! THANK

[Alicet]

So glad I saw this!! My BMI has always been overweight even when I’m my leanest. My WH ratio is .5! this makes me feel much better. Thank you DR Berry

[jeffj]

This is great information, doctor. Thanks for this short video which most people can view in the amount of time given. I'm glad now I can drop the BMI crapola.

[MarkSmith-jspu]

Good morning Ken. You are such an effective communicator, here’s wishing you all the best. Keep at it!