One of my classes this semester is a Business Ethics course, and I enjoy it very much. We read articles, watch movies, and listen to speakers who can relate to the various topics within the course. Now, although one of the days is lecture-based I keep pretty quiet, I'm not sure if I'll be able to do it today. The topic of the week is the Consumer as the Stakeholder, and it highlights the food and diet industries. As you can probably guess from the content of my blog, this is a very sensitive topic for me. This is especially true when people start spouting out facts about how many Americans are obese and cite BMI statistics as their source. Now I'm sorry if I'm about to burst your bubble, but BMI is a load of horse poop. No, it's not even that good, it's like Miley Cyrus being Autotuned while clothed in horse manure. That seems like a closer visualization.
So what is this pile of doo that is BMI?
BMI = Weight (lb) / (Height (in) x Height (in)) x 703
That's all it is folks. A simple equation incorporating your height and weight. (The 703 is there just because the original formula was in metric system. Like the rest of the world-but that's another topic altogether.) So what about muscle mass, age, waist measurements, body composition, medical conditions, or many of the other things that effect a human's weight? Oh, according to BMI, it isn't worth a penny. Or a peso, or one yen. Nothing. And yet the media constantly harps on this many people are obese as categorized by BMI. By taking this as an example, why don't we just throw together random variables and come up with equations that determine ability to think, or intelligence capacity? This equation doesn't even make sense scientifically, and yet it is as common as the sunshine.
This is all basically a big ruse to inspire fear and to encourage fat-phobia. People who toot the horn of BMI repeatedly have no idea what the physical well being of the people who are "obese" or "overweight" is actually. These people could be body builders, or athletes, or just normal people. They just know that it's different, and different is bad, so why shouldn't they praise it?
While they're at it, while they are using this fantastic equation to determine who is and who is not healthy, why don't they tax those who are "obese?" Take the proposed "fat tax" in Arizona for example. Any person who is considered overweight, has diabetes, or smokes will be taxed $50. Presumably the government officials will use BMI in order to determine who is "overweight" and who is not. It doesn't matter if they have a genetic disorder, cancer, or physical limitations. They are "wrong," so they should be taxed.
Oh, and BMI doesn't just incorrectly classify those in the "obese" category. People who are listed as "normal" under BMI could very unhealthy as well. The lack of perspective and insight in this equation makes all the data that comes from it fall flat. And yet, so many people depend on it and cite it so that they may sell another diet plan or wonder pill.
Thank goodness for the myriad of sources on the internet that put this so much more eloquently and backed up than I could ever write. Due to the length of this monstrosity, I'll just post a few links rather than go on anymore, and trust me, I could.
Top 10 Reasons BMI is bogus
Backstory
There are, of course, fifteen bajillion other articles on the topic, but I think these two provide a good basis.
I truly hate to end on a sour note, so I will include a teaser from my latest food cookery!
HEART
Zan
:: A Quote To Leave You By ::
"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it."
~ Confucius ~
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