BMI Isn’t a One-Size-Fits-All Health Measure — So How Should We Really Use It?

Most people have heard of Body Mass Index, or BMI. Many even know their number. What’s less commonly discussed is how this simple calculation became such a powerful tool in healthcare — and why it increasingly fails to reflect real health risks for large sections of the population, especially in India and other South Asian countries.

BMI was never meant to define individual health. Yet today, it often determines who gets medical advice, who qualifies for treatment programmes, and who is considered “at risk.”

Where BMI Came From — and What It Actually Measures

BMI was developed in the 19th century using data from a narrow population group. It calculates health risk by dividing weight by height squared. The method was designed to study population trends, not to assess individual bodies.

What BMI really measures is body size, not body composition.

It does not distinguish between:

Fat and muscle

Visceral fat and subcutaneous fat

Bone density differences

Ethnic and genetic variations

A muscular person may be labelled overweight, while someone with high body fat but low muscle may fall within a “normal” range.

Why BMI Misses the Mark for Indians and South Asians

In India, the limitations of BMI become even more obvious. Research over the years has shown that South Asian populations tend to:

Develop diabetes and heart disease at lower BMI levels

Accumulate more abdominal and visceral fat

Experience metabolic risk even when not visibly overweight

This means that many Indians face serious health risks while still falling within what BMI defines as a “healthy” range.

As a result, conditions like:

Type 2 diabetes

Fatty liver disease

Hypertension

Heart disease

often go undetected until they are well established.

The Problem With Universal BMI Cut-Offs

Global BMI thresholds assume that health risks rise uniformly across populations. In reality, they don’t.

For many Indians, metabolic risk begins at BMI levels that are still considered acceptable by international standards. When doctors rely too heavily on BMI alone:

Early warning signs are missed

Preventive screenings are delayed

Lifestyle interventions are not offered in time

This creates a gap where large numbers of people appear “low risk” on paper but are actually vulnerable.

Why BMI Still Persists in Healthcare

Despite its flaws, BMI continues to be widely used because it is:

Easy to calculate

Inexpensive

Consistent across large populations

Useful for broad public health monitoring

For population-level trends, BMI still has value. The problem arises when it becomes the sole indicator of individual health.

What Should Replace or Support BMI?

Rather than abandoning BMI altogether, many healthcare professionals now see it as just one piece of a much larger health picture.

Better assessments often include:

Waist circumference

Waist-to-hip ratio

Blood sugar levels

Cholesterol profile

Blood pressure

Physical activity levels

Diet patterns

Family history

In many cases, waist circumference has proven to be a stronger indicator of metabolic risk than BMI alone — especially for Indian patients.

Why This Matters for Preventive Healthcare in India

India is facing a rapid rise in lifestyle-related conditions. Early identification of risk is critical.

When BMI thresholds are treated as fixed rules:

People miss out on early counselling

Screening tests are postponed

Preventive care becomes reactive instead of proactive

A more flexible, individual-focused approach allows doctors to intervene before disease sets in.

The Role of Specialised Medical Departments

Managing weight-related and metabolic health requires a multidisciplinary approach, involving:

Endocrinology for diabetes and hormonal balance

Internal Medicine for overall metabolic assessment

Cardiology for heart health

Nutrition and Dietetics for personalised dietary planning

Preventive Medicine for early risk management

On TheThs.com, users can easily find and compare doctors, hospitals, clinics, and wellness centres across these specialties.

Moving Toward More Inclusive Health Metrics

Health is not a number — it’s a combination of biology, lifestyle, environment, and access to care. While BMI may remain part of medical conversations for now, its role is gradually changing.

The future of healthcare lies in:

Personalised risk assessment

Culturally relevant guidelines

Early, inclusive screening

Holistic evaluation beyond weight alone

Conclusion

BMI was never designed to define individual health — and for populations like Indians, relying on it too heavily can be misleading. Used carefully, it can still offer insight. Used alone, it can hide risk.

A more complete picture comes from combining BMI with other clinical markers, lifestyle factors, and medical evaluation. Platforms like TheThs.com help bridge this gap by connecting individuals to the right specialists, diagnostics, and preventive care — enabling health decisions that go beyond a single number.