The Department of Health and Human Services admits that the BMI has shortcomings because it “may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build” and “may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle mass. While nearly every story written about obesity says that 1980 was the moment when America began getting fatter, the average American male in 1960 was overweight according to the BMI. The same could be said for about 35 million Americans who suddenly found themselves classified as overweight when the BMI guidelines were adjusted, moving those with BMIs between 25 and 27. More recently, the CDC issued a report suggesting those with BMIs between 25-30, that is to say overweight people, had lower mortality rates than people in the normal weight category. People who were classified as overweight had lower risk of a variety of diseases including Parkinson’s and lung disease that counteracted their increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. read more
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