Limitations of the Obesity Chart
The
BMI score generated from the obesity chart is valid for both men and women, but it does have some limitations. For example:
- It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build (see BMI for Athletes)
- It may underestimate body fat in older people and others who have lost muscle mass.
Therefore, it is possible for a person to be completely healthy, but have an "unhealthy BMI." Also, healthcare providers consider other factors besides BMI when assessing the health risk for certain medical conditions.
(Click BMI and Weight for more information on other factors that healthcare providers consider when determining risk for certain medical conditions related to weight.)
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