The American Medical Association (AMA) recently made a controversial decision to recommend against the use of body mass index (BMI) as the sole measure for healthy body weight. The reason behind this decision is based on claims that BMI has a “racist” past causing “historical harm” and has been used for “racist exclusion.” Such accusations are not only baseless but also undermine the very essence of this crucial health measure.
BMI is a simple mathematical formula used for identifying potential health risks in patients by calculating their height and weight to determine if they fall within the range of underweight, healthy weight, overweight, or obese. It’s puzzling that the AMA would classify such a fundamental health metric as “racist,” especially when obesity is disproportionately affecting minority communities, particularly African Americans and Hispanics.
BMI has been used for decades by healthcare professionals worldwide to assess an individual’s overall health status. Discrediting its effectiveness due to unfounded accusations of racism is a shameful way of disregarding a tool that has saved millions of lives.
One of the primary reasons that the AMA cited for discrediting BMI is that it allegedly does not appropriately represent racial and ethnic minorities. However, research has shown that BMI is a reliable indicator of body fat and health risks in people of all races, genders, and ethnicities, according to a study by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Furthermore, the AMA suggests using other factors, such as visceral fat measurements, percentage of muscle mass, fat, and bone, and other metabolic factors to determine healthy body weight. Although these factors may be useful in a clinical setting, they are time-consuming, expensive, and accessible to only a limited number of healthcare facilities.
Apart from discrediting BMI, the AMA has also vowed to support cross-sex medical interventions for youths with gender identity issues. This move is not only controversial but also shows how the AMA is more interested in promoting its political agenda than focusing on patient care.
In conclusion, BMI remains a crucial health metric, and discrediting it based on groundless accusations of racism is a disservice to healthcare professionals and patients worldwide. The AMA should retract its recommendation and focus on promoting accessibility to healthcare facilities that can help patients combat weight-related health issues, regardless of their race or ethnicity.
