Key TakeawaysBody mass index (BMI) is only one part of your health assessment.Doctors say that BMI may not be an accurate representation of overall health.Lifestyle factors, other disease symptoms, and mental health should all be taken into account as well.

Key Takeaways

Body mass index (BMI) is only one part of your health assessment.Doctors say that BMI may not be an accurate representation of overall health.Lifestyle factors, other disease symptoms, and mental health should all be taken into account as well.

However, this concept raises the question: Ifbody mass index (BMI)and other weight-related metrics don’t define health, what does? What do physicians look for in a general exam when someone is not explicitly interested in losing weight?

Why BMI Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that BMI is most often used because it’s inexpensive and accessible, making it the default metric for many providers. However, a more comprehensive approach offers a more accurate view of individual health, Gitomer said.

“A more holistic approach to patient health assessment, recognizing the shortcomings of weight or BMI accounting for the factors above and incorporating a variety of additional factors, offers a better reflection of a person’s health,” he said. “Given the complexity of health, our approach to assessment must be equally nuanced.”

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More Specific Criteria Paint a More Accurate Picture

Thais Aliabadi, MD, OBGYN, founder of the weight management program Trimly, said she reviews a patient’s metabolic health, mental health, risk factors, and family history instead of simply evaluating their BMI and weight.

“Elevatedblood pressure,cholesterol levels, andblood sugar levelsmay indicate underlying health issues, even in patients with a normal BMI,” she told Verywell. “This approach provides a more nuanced understanding of how the body processes energy and responds to different dietary and lifestyle factors. Of course, a patient’s individual dietary habits and physical fitness help me identify areas for improvement irrespective of BMI.”

‘Normal’ Ranges Providers Look For in AdultsBlood PressureA normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg.CholesterolHealthy cholesterol levels include:Total cholesterol: 125 mg/dL to 200 mg/dLTriglycerides: less than 150 mg/dLHDL: 40 mg/dL or higher in men, 50 mg/dL or higher in womenLDL: less than 100 mg/dLNon-HDL: less than 130 mg/dLBlood SugarThe normal range for fasting blood glucose (blood glucose when you haven’t eaten) is between 70 mg/dL and 100 mg/dL.

‘Normal’ Ranges Providers Look For in Adults

Blood PressureA normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg.CholesterolHealthy cholesterol levels include:Total cholesterol: 125 mg/dL to 200 mg/dLTriglycerides: less than 150 mg/dLHDL: 40 mg/dL or higher in men, 50 mg/dL or higher in womenLDL: less than 100 mg/dLNon-HDL: less than 130 mg/dLBlood SugarThe normal range for fasting blood glucose (blood glucose when you haven’t eaten) is between 70 mg/dL and 100 mg/dL.

Blood Pressure

A normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg.

Cholesterol

Healthy cholesterol levels include:

Blood Sugar

The normal range for fasting blood glucose (blood glucose when you haven’t eaten) is between 70 mg/dL and 100 mg/dL.

Gitomer said healthy ranges for metrics like blood pressure and blood sugar aren’t the same for everyone.

Gitomer also takes age, sex, and lifestyle factors into consideration.

“Lifestyle factors, including physical activity levels, dietary habits or restrictions, sleep quality, and stress management further impact the biological factors,” he said. “Regular physical activity and a balanced diet, for example, can mitigate the risk of chronic diseases, improve mental health, and enhance quality of life, irrespective of weight or BMI.”

People with chronic diseases, in particular, shouldn’t place too much importance on BMI, Gitomer added.

What This Means For YouBMI and weight may be accessible metrics for health, but they should not be considered all-encompassing. If your doctor looks for markers of disease such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or metabolic syndrome, especially when paired with an honest analysis of your lifestyle and diet, you’ll get a more complete picture of your health.

What This Means For You

BMI and weight may be accessible metrics for health, but they should not be considered all-encompassing. If your doctor looks for markers of disease such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or metabolic syndrome, especially when paired with an honest analysis of your lifestyle and diet, you’ll get a more complete picture of your health.

4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Growth chart training - calculating BMI.American Heart Association.Understanding blood pressure readings.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Cholesterol levels: what you need to know.World Health Organization.Mean fasting blood glucose.

4 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Growth chart training - calculating BMI.American Heart Association.Understanding blood pressure readings.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Cholesterol levels: what you need to know.World Health Organization.Mean fasting blood glucose.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Growth chart training - calculating BMI.American Heart Association.Understanding blood pressure readings.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Cholesterol levels: what you need to know.World Health Organization.Mean fasting blood glucose.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Growth chart training - calculating BMI.

American Heart Association.Understanding blood pressure readings.

National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Cholesterol levels: what you need to know.

World Health Organization.Mean fasting blood glucose.

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