Instead of Body Mass Index (BMI), Use THIS...

Learn why BMI isn’t that helpful and discover other ways to evaluate your overall health and longevity.

VO2max:

CAC test:

0:00 Introduction: What is BMI?
0:20 Problems with using BMI
0:58 Other common measurements
2:13 How much weight should you lose in a week?
3:23 Understanding plateau
3:45 BMI explained
4:05 Helpful tests to evaluate your health
6:25 The best assessment of overall health
7:38 Get unfiltered health information by signing up for my newsletter

Let’s talk about the problems with using BMI (body mass index) as a weight or health measurement.

One of the biggest problems with BMI is that it doesn’t tell you how much fat you have versus muscle. It also can’t give you much of an idea of what's going on with your overall health.

Other common measurements:
• BMR (basal metabolic rate): Measures how fast you’re burning calories
• TDEE (total daily energy expenditure): Measures the quantity of energy being burned
• Keto calculator: Measures BMR and TDEE and can tell you how many calories and how many macronutrients you should consume in a day based on your BMR and TDEE

Many times, people look at how much weight they lose per week as a measurement of how healthy their metabolism is. However, this isn’t a good idea.

A big principle to consider is: get healthy to lose weight—don’t lose weight to get healthy. In the process of exercising and getting healthy, you’re going to gain muscle.

Muscle is heavier than fat. This means that some weeks you may not lose any weight, but your clothes are still going to feel more and more loose.

Instead of a BMI test, there are many other helpful tests you can do to help measure your overall health.

One of the best assessments of overall health is the metabolomic test. This test can look at your metabolic pathways in real-time. It can provide great data to help professionals understand what could happen down the road, so you can do something about it now.

Dr. Eric Berg DC Bio:
Dr. Berg, age 58, is a chiropractor who specializes in Healthy Ketosis and intermittent fasting. He is the author of the best-selling book The Healthy Keto Plan, and is the Director of Dr. Berg Nutritionals®. He no longer practices, but focuses on health education through social media.

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Disclaimer:
Dr. Eric Berg received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1988. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Berg is a licensed chiropractor in Virginia, California, and Louisiana, but he no longer practices chiropractic in any state and does not see patients so he can focus on educating people as a full-time activity, yet he maintains an active license. This video is for general informational purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, cure, treatment, diagnosis, prescription, or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Berg and you. You should not make any change in your health regimen or diet before first consulting a physician and obtaining a medical exam, diagnosis, and recommendation. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

#keto #ketodiet #weightloss #ketolifestyle

Thanks for watching! I hope this helps you better understand BMI and other ways to assess your health. I’ll see you in the next video.

[ThorosThor]

Dr Berg,

With keto and fasting,
He leads the way,
Guiding us all
To a healthier day,

His videos are clear,
His advice is sound,
In the quest for wellness,
He can always be found.

So here's to Dr. Berg,
With gratitude and cheer,
For helping us live our best lives,
Year after year!👍👍

[ceejay]

As a physicist, BMI has always seemed odd to me, because the formula Weight/square of height is that for a pressure (Force/Area). One reason doctors like BMI is that they routinely measure both weight and height for their patients and so they have the data for everyone, but BMI has problems, as Dr Berg points out.

[normaspringsteentransforma]

The biggest problem with BMI being used as a gauge individual health is that it was never designed for that. It was designed for use in gauging POPULATION health. Even in that use it has serious limitations and inaccuracies. It should be eliminated from all use in health care.

[kathleenedens]

I'm 62, 20 pounds overweight, with several health issues. I started a ketovore lifestyle 3 weeks ago. I have lost 12 pounds of inflammation and water, which is great. But the difference in how I feel is the awesome part of this diet. I've committed to a 90 day trial. I can't wait to see the results.😊

[rickthain]

I followed your advice from previous video and had my CAC test. I couldn't believe, as a 64 year old T2 diabetic for 20 years, my score was ZERO! Awesome Doc, your Keto and OMAD works!

[mjolniron]

I’m 5’7” (170 cm) and 185 lbs (84 kg) and engage in intensive exercise 3x week. I maintain about 14% body fat and am extremely fit. The hospital I work at gives you points back for being in shape, not smoking and such, and gives you a bonus at the end of the year essentially for being healthy. Because my BMI is consistently greater than 30 I get dinged and I do not get the full Reimbursement. I’ve argued with him on the phone many many times. And yet still because BMI is a thing that the health industry goes by they don’t acknowledge Fitness. I am penalized for. Very frustrating.

[fidelcatsro]

Sharing Dr Berg notes
One of the biggest problems with BMI is that it doesn’t tell you how much fat you have versus muscle. It also can’t give you much of an idea of what's going on with your overall health.

Other common measurements:
• BMR (basal metabolic rate): Measures how fast you’re burning calories
• TDEE (total daily energy expenditure): Measures the quantity of energy being burned
• Keto calculator: Measures BMR and TDEE and can tell you how many calories and how many macronutrients you should consume in a day based on your BMR and TDEE

Many times, people look at how much weight they lose per week as a measurement of how healthy their metabolism is. However, this isn’t a good idea.

A big principle to consider is: get healthy to lose weight—don’t lose weight to get healthy. In the process of exercising and getting healthy, you’re going to gain muscle.

Muscle is heavier than fat. This means that some weeks you may not lose any weight, but your clothes are still going to feel more and more loose.

Instead of a BMI test, there are many other helpful tests you can do to help measure your overall health.

One of the best assessments of overall health is the metabolomic test. This test can look at your metabolic pathways in real-time. It can provide great data to help professionals understand what could happen down the road, so you can do something about it now.

Thank you Dr Berg!
😺👍

[midnightsocean]

Always appreciate your videos. I find if I avoid poisoned food, sugar and over abundance of carbs, my body weight naturally stabilizes where it wants to be.

[CookingwithDesi]

Thank you Dr. Berg for putting this info out there. I never believed in BMI ever since they would send home letters of my normal athletic children as being obese. My husband is stuck on these BMI standards and is now what I consider underweight and almost emaciated. Maybe he will listen hearing it from you.

[Lance]

When I began IF and low carb five years ago, I wondered how I would measure progress. It turned out I didn't have to worry or do anything special. My body could tell if it was working. Body fat dropped, I felt better and better, energy went up, my asthma went away. I don't need a test to tell me it is working.

[georgeford]

CAC test is 1
Marine body fat test 13.4%
Age 60 YO male
168 lbs.
I feel great lookin good and run circles around the college kids at work!!! Been following Dr Berg for 2 years now.

[Gee-Raf]

BMI is an antiquated system that has never been able to to give a realistic weight goal. Too many factors not taken into account. Thanks Dr. Berg for addressing this!

[C.N.]

Heavy deadlifting, heavy squatting, pull-ups, and jump roping with people twice or thrice your size and weight seems to be a better way to measure your health❗️ Thanks, and great day, Dr. Berg❗️🤘

[carolinadls]

This is incredible, last night I was just thinking if BMI was real or not, and the first thing I see in the morning is dr berg uploads a video ❤

[dawnelder]

When I first went low carb, I lost very well at first in the first year. Stalled at 156 for a year. But figured it was way better, as I was holding steady and not starving to death.
But also dropped 2 sizes during that year. Then the weight started coming off again the next year. About 13 years of holding steady in a 10 pound range. I weigh the most at the end of winter. By November looking too thin.

[rachaad]

As a personal trainer. Thank you for addressing this !!!

[tonystoops]

No matter what I do i weight 165, and I'm 6'2". I'm happy with it.

[StiffAftermath]

The Inuit defy the BMI.

Also, I subbed to your newsletter. Thank you for your continued awareness!

[RobCLynch]

I'm 6'5" tall and my BMI is now on the edge of green...almost suggesting that I'm close to obese. However, in 2020 I had a BMI of 33 which was obese. Since then, keto with intermittent fasting 20:4 helped me to easily shed 103 pounds, helping me to feel more healthy than I ever have.
The thing is, I'm carrying a fair amount of muscle, so my weight might appear to be heavy at 220 pounds...but I know I'm not anywhere near obese. For me, I believe that I've settled at my perfect normal weight, based on two keto meals per day. That tells me right away that BMI is not a good indicator of true levels of health.

[cbd]

i said this to my doctor 5 months ago. i am built like a line backer. i am 6'2' and 330 lbs. i need hip and knee surgery.. he said my bmi was to high. i said the exact same thing to him. he said basically loose weight. u.mmm there is a trade off. i went to the gym, guess what.. i built muscle and got heaver.... like wtf