“BUT I’M OVERWEIGHT”
three persistent myths about bmi
By Lindsie Meek
You go to the doctor for a sprained wrist and somehow leave with a prescription for weight loss. No meaningful conversation, no real investigation — just a recommendation based on your body size. Sound familiar? This scenario plays out too often, and it’s not just frustrating — it’s harmful. It reflects a healthcare culture that prioritizes weight over well-being and assumes that a higher number on the scale must be the problem. Let’s talk about it. Here are three persistent (and damaging) myths about BMI and what you should know instead.
MYTH ONE: BODY SIZE = HEALTH STATUS
It doesn’t. Here’s the truth: health isn’t visible. You can’t tell how someone is doing — physically, mentally, or emotionally — just by looking at their body. Yes, some people in larger bodies live with chronic health conditions. So do people in thin bodies. And everyone in between. But the idea that a fat body automatically equals an unhealthy body? That’s a myth rooted in bias, not science. Health is layered. It includes physical markers, yes — but also mental health, stress, trauma history, access to care, community, and more.
MYTH TWO: BMI WAS CREATED BY MEDICAL EXPERTS
It wasn’t. The Body Mass Index wasn’t developed by a doctor or a health professional. It was created in the 1830s by a Belgian mathematician named Adolphe Quetelet, who was studying statistical averages across white European men — not health. His formula was never meant to assess individual well-being. In fact, Quetelet himself cautioned against using it this way. But still, nearly two centuries later, we’re using it in medical settings as if it holds the full picture.
MYTH THREE: DOCTORS NEED BMI TO PROVIDE GOOD CARE
False. BMI is often treated as a shortcut in healthcare, but it’s a flawed one. Thankfully, more providers are stepping away from weight-based metrics and turning toward holistic, person-centered assessments. Things like blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar regulation, sleep quality, movement, nourishment, and emotional well-being are far more meaningful than a single number. While some insurance companies still require BMI for documentation, that doesn’t mean it should shape your care or define your worth.
Moving Forward: How to Advocate for Weight-Inclusive Care
So what now? If you’ve ever felt dismissed or unseen in a medical setting, you’re not alone — and you are not without options. Here are a few ways to advocate for yourself or someone you love:
“I'm interested in your perspective on using BMI as a health measure given its non-medical origin. How do you balance BMI with other health measures in your practice?”
“Would you treat these symptoms differently in a smaller-bodied patient?”
Ask questions.
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FIND WEIGHT-inclusive providers.
Look for practitioners who use a Health at Every Size® (HAES) approach—many cities now have directories to help.
Search keywords including “HAES”, “weight neutral”, “non-diet” primary care doctor in your city.
Mary Lambert compiled an incredible list of nationwide resources to help you begin your search for a weight neutral provider Weight Neutral Providers Lead List.
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Bring a support person.
Whether it’s a friend, partner, or advocate, having someone with you can help reinforce your boundaries and your voice.
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know your rights.
You can decline to be weighed. You can ask for a blind weight. You can say, “Let’s focus on what I came in for.”
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FOCUS on behaviors, not weight.
Sustainable health is built on supportive practices—like nourishing your body, moving in ways that feel good, tending to stress—not on changing your size.
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You deserve care that honors your whole self, not just your number on the scale.
REFEReNCES
Dodson, J. A., & Lewis, T. T. (2023). The body mass index: A flawed measure of health. The Lancet Healthy Longevity, 4(2), e71–e72. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-7568(23)00006-3
Eknoyan, G. (2008). Adolphe Quetelet (1796–1874)—the average man and indices of obesity. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 23(1), 47–51. https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfm517
Tylka, T. L., Annunziato, R. A., Burgard, D., Daníelsdóttir, S., Shuman, E., Davis, C., & Calogero, R. M. (2014). The Weight-Inclusive versus Weight-Normative Approach to Health: Evaluating the Evidence for Prioritizing Well-Being over Weight Loss. Journal of Obesity, 2014, 983495. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/983495
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