In June, the American Medical Association (AMA) changed their tune about Body Mass Index (BMI) and recommended that body composition testing be used in clinical settings. 

The AMA House of Delegates new policy indicates they suggest the use of the following in addition to other valid measures of risk such as, but not limited to, measurements of:

• Visceral fat.
• Body adiposity index.
• Body composition.
• Relative fat mass.
• Waist circumference.
• Genetic or metabolic factors.

BMI can’t measure how our total weight comprises a percentage of fat versus muscle, vital indicators of overall health. Furthermore, BMI doesn’t tell us where fat tends to accumulate, which is another critical measurement medical professionals need to understand when assessing body composition and the corresponding potential health risks.

A person with an average BMI can still have a higher body fat percentage than is optimal for their health — a fact masked by this measurement’s simplicity. Conversely, some people with a high percentage of muscle, such as athletes, may technically be considered overweight or obese by BMI standards.

Join InBodyCanada for this FREE webinar on Wednesday, October 18th, at 1:00 pm EST to break down the limitations of BMI and how it can be misleading. Plus, they’ll explore the comprehensive metrics that BIA body composition analysis provides and how this can help you better understand overall health.