The BMI Scam

By: Nikita Blue -- Americans everywhere flock anxiously to pile onto the dieting rollercoaster. They leave their health and self-esteem behind in pursuit of a bone-hugging physique. The combination of cultural and media influences, misleading research, and unscientific “science” produces an irresistible concoction of mouthwatering self-rejection and unattainable standards. The trusted BMI scale produces erratic calculations which are warping our nation’s perception. Its haphazard formula helps feed the capitalistic mulch machine that generates the desirable level of fear and insecurity in American consumers. What’s worse is that people keep coming back for more.

                Most citizens feel confident that the information contained in the BMI chart is accurate and consistent. In reality, it’s an outdated and inherently flawed system. The BMI scale was invented in the early 1800’s by Adolphe Quetelet while developing “social physics.” The formula for the calculation of one’s Body Mass Index is a person’s body weight divided by the square of his or her height. There aren’t even separate charts for men and women. Dr. Molly Bray, associate professor of pediatrics - nutrition at the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center at BCM and Texas Children's Hospital says, “[The BMI scale] doesn't take into account differences in body composition between genders, race/ethnicity groups, and across the lifespan." Compounding the issue, the scale is ignorant of bone structure and muscle mass. Muscle weighs significantly more than fat, so athletes and fitness buffs are particularly incompatible with BMI standards. According to the scale, Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt are overweight; Shaq and George Clooney are downright obese. If the scale is intended to analyze health, why would it discourage muscle growth?

                The inaccurate measurement system of the Body Mass Index has been adopted by government agencies and departments, fitness facilities, and even by doctors. It has been promoted by federally sponsored health organizations. A book called Why She Feels Fat, written by two specialists in the field of eating disorders, imparts, “Women are led to believe they should be thin… [but] no matter what they do, most women aren’t physically capable of reaching the degree of thinness portrayed as ideal in our culture. Nonetheless, many will spend their lives attempting to alter their bodies and feeling inadequate and dissatisfied with themselves as a result.” Western culture promotes an ideal, stick-thin figure. This image is perpetuated and supported by corrupted governmental dictates on public health. These standards are backed by the BMI scale. Statistics, research, and public service announcements on down to the food pyramid have been tainted by corporate ambition and biased science. In Marion Nestle’s Food Politics, he speaks up about the deceptive practice of co-opting nutrition professionals for better sales. He warns, “…advice issued by the government never has been based purely on considerations of public health.” Due to mass belief in the accuracy of governmental diagnoses, the public is being duped regarding weight-related statistics as well. Eric Oliver, author of Fat Politics, comments that the number of Americans considered "obese" according to official standards increased by 55 percent between 1980 and 1994. But the average American didn't gain 55 percent more weight during that period -- they gained only seven to nine pounds. Apparently, 63% of Americans are obese – but that’s according to statistics. These figures are calculated based on erroneous data derived from the government-sanctioned BMI scale itself. Paul Campos, in his book The Obesity Myth, injects, “Indeed, given that Americans are enjoying longer lives and better health than ever before, the claim that four out of five of us are running serious health risks because of our weight sounds exactly like the sort of exaggeration that can produce a cultural epidemic of fear…” And so it has. We are fed the “tragedies” of celebrity weight gain through the tabloids, magazines, and entertainment news programs. We are warned of the ominous social and physical consequences that result from possessing a pinchable waist. It is propaganda at its finest; so good, in fact, most can’t un-learn it.

                For most people, body weight consistently returns to a familiar range, regardless of the ups and downs resulting from overeating or intensive dieting. This is due to the little-known fact that everyone has their own weight homeostasis. Many will be unable to adjust their weight to the ludicrous demands of the BMI scale because a person’s natural body weight will prevail under normal conditions. Everyone is different, so it is impossible to designate universal criteria. Women’s Health contributor Margaret Renkl notes in a recent issue, “…each person has a baseline weight… a set point where the body naturally wants to be. If you end up more than 10 percent below your set point, your body will fight back.” Thinner isn’t healthier, regardless of what the Body Mass Index calculators may have you believe. Fat is natural. Fat is good for you. Fat saves us from starvation and dehydration. Fat keeps us alive. In Fat Politics, Eric Oliver writes, “…our fatness is like our body hair or the shape of our ears -- it is a natural part of our physicality that has a specific function.” Dieting is what kills.

                The term “yo-yo dieting” describes many attempts to diet in ways that are unrealistic for long-term use and, as a result, the naturally-retained weight returns. This unhealthy practice may raise blood pressure, damage blood vessels, weaken your immune system, slow your metabolism and cause heart malfunction. It is also linked to gallstones, heart disease and muscle loss.

                The BMI scale is an unreliable method of assessment and should be disregarded. It is an investment for greedy corporations and power-hungry government officials. It makes weight maintenance products an easy sell; even doctors and plastic surgeons profit from the obesity craze. Your body belongs to you and your weight is a natural function. Don’t let government propaganda freeze your brain just because there’s a chart to follow. When all is said and done, it’s all about capitalism: everyone wants a piece of the pie – even if they puke right after they eat it.

Photo Courtesy of Samantha Slamma's blog

Nikita Blue

Email: nikitablue23@hotmail.com