BMI has been used for decades as a quick way to measure “health” — but here’s the truth: it was never designed for individuals. Created in the 1800s by a mathematician and adopted by insurance companies in the 1970s, BMI ignores body composition, genetics, fitness, nutrition, and mental health. Yet it’s still used to label and shame people in ways that often do more harm than good.

In this episode of Sturdy Girl, I break down the history of BMI, why it’s a flawed measure of health, and what to focus on instead. I share my own story of walking out of a doctor’s office when BMI was used against me, plus research that highlights better, sturdier ways to define health. Most importantly, you’ll learn practical steps for doing a “sturdy health check-in” that has nothing to do with a chart.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Where BMI really came from (and why it was never meant for you)
• The major flaws of BMI as a health measure
• Why focusing on weight alone misses the bigger picture of health
• Research-backed alternatives like Health at Every Size (HAES)
• A simple “sturdy health check-in” to measure progress beyond numbers

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