These three parameters are better at assessing your health than BMI

Body mass index (BMI) is still widely used as a measure for estimating a person’s nutritional health status, based on their weight and height. But, although it can act as a parameter in counseling, it is very limited when it comes to predicting someone’s true state of health—because it does not take into account a series of variables that could be most useful and reliable for diagnosis.

According to endocrinologist Roberto Zagury, member of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism, in an article for MinhaVida, the BMI does not always represent reality From a person, because it does not take into account Body weight composition.

“It is important to remember that body mass consists of water, fat, muscle and bone, and all of this needs to be well evaluated in order to properly measure a person’s health,” explains the specialist.

In the case of a weightlifter, for example, the BMI will be very high, but this does not reflect obesity, since most of the body mass is made up of muscle, which is heavier than fat.

Therefore, we separated three parameters that could better predict physical fitness and nutritional health than BMI. Meet each one below:

1- Body fat percentage

the fat percentage It is a more reliable and useful indicator for drawing conclusions about a person’s health. Age, genetics, and gender can all affect your body fat percentage. So, based on these variables, what may be ideal for one person may not be ideal for another.

Although the quickest way to measure your body fat percentage is through Bioimpedance tablesThese are not always completely accurate and reliable. Therefore, the ideal option would be to check these indicators with a dietitian who has a fat measuring device or a caliper.

2 – The waist-to-hip ratio and the waist-to-height ratio

The waist-hip ratio is the anthropometric ratio you analyze Waist and hip circumference To estimate a person’s level of fat, especially intra-abdominal fat. This is one of the most predictive measures when it comes to estimation Risk of cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease.

The World Health Organization considers normal ratios to range from 0.71 to 0.84 in women and 0.78 to 0.94 in men. For numbers above these values, there is a higher risk of developing diseases caused by fat accumulation.

The waist height index is also an anthropometric ratio that, in recent years, has become a substitute for, or even a complement to, the previous method. In this case, the risk of disease increases from A percentage greater than 0.5.

3 – Hand grip strength

Hand grip strength (HGS) has been established in recent years as a reliable coefficient for estimating, through correlation, Degree of independence and autonomy which any elderly person would receive.

greater grip strength, dynamometer measuredis associated with a greater proportion of muscle mass – and this, in turn, is associated with increased bone mineral density, cognition, and mobility.