Yahoo Lifestyle Think You're Healthy? Science Says This Is How You Should Measure It
Body mass index (BMI) has been a controversial health measurement for years, with critics pointing out that it can be misleading. Still, it's a relatively easy stat for doctors to calculate, so it continues to be used in the medical field.
Now, a new analysis of scientific data finds that a different metric is far superior at calculating cardiovascular and other health risks. Here’s what the research found, plus what it means.
What did the study find?
The study, which was recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, analyzed data from 20 studies of nearly 400,000 people where a person’s cardiovascular fitness was compared to their BMI. (The researchers measured fitness with a VO2 peak exercise test—more on that in a second.) The scientists also looked at the study participants’ risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality.
Researchers discovered that people who had overweight or obesity but were fit didn’t have a statistically significant higher risk of dying or developing heart disease. But people who were not fit had a two- to three-times greater risk of dying, regardless of their weight.
“From a health perspective, the risks of being unfit are far worse than the risks associated with carrying extra weight,” lead author Siddhartha Angadi, PhD, an associate professor in the department of kinesiology at the University of Virginia, told Runner's World. “This study builds on a large body of research over the past three decades that underscores the importance of fitness over fatness.”
In an ideal world, doctors would gauge health risks by measuring exercise capacity, Angadi added, noting that it should be considered a “vital sign” like blood pressure, pulse rate, and temperature.
What is VO2 max?
VO2 max is a measure of how much oxygen your body absorbs and uses while you work out. (V stands for “volume” while “O2” is for oxygen.)
What is BMI?
BMI stands for body mass index. It’s a calculation of your height relatively to your weight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). BMI is generally classified into underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obesity—although obesity is subdivided into three classes.
BMI has received a lot of criticism over the past few years. In fact, the American Medical Association calls BMI an “imperfect way to measure body fat in multiple groups, given that it does not account for differences across race/ethnic groups, sexes, genders, and age-span.”
A person who has a lot of muscle may be classified as obese under BMI measurements, for example, simply because this calculation only relies on height and weight.
How can I measure my VO2 max?
Unfortunately, VO2 max isn’t an easy thing to calculate on your own. It usually requires undergoing a cardiopulmonary exercise test at your doctor’s office or at an exercise medicine lab, where you wear a mask over your face to record your oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production while running on a treadmill, riding a bike, or doing something similar, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
That said, some fitness trackers can estimate your VO2 max based on your pace and heart rate (although this is just an estimate—not actual results).
If you're concerned about your overall fitness and its impact on your health, check in with a medical professional. They can give you a thorough evaluation and recommend next steps from there.
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