Life Kit: Health

BMI is flawed. Try a body composition test


Listen Later

For decades, health experts have relied on body mass index (BMI), a ratio of weight to height, to classify people as underweight, normal weight, overweight or obese. But sometimes, you need more than two numbers to understand your health. For example, BMI can't tell you how much of your weight is fat versus muscle. That's why a growing number of researchers and physicians prefer other metrics instead. NPR health correspondent Allison Aubrey breaks down the history and shortcomings of BMI, and shares other methods to get a fuller picture of your body.

To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Life Kit: HealthBy NPR

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

419 ratings


More shows like Life Kit: Health

View all
TED Radio Hour by NPR

TED Radio Hour

21,925 Listeners

Planet Money by NPR

Planet Money

30,673 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,623 Listeners

TED Health by TED

TED Health

1,406 Listeners

Code Switch by NPR

Code Switch

14,669 Listeners

Up First from NPR by NPR

Up First from NPR

56,991 Listeners

It's Been a Minute by NPR

It's Been a Minute

9,111 Listeners

The Science of Happiness by PRX and Greater Good Science Center

The Science of Happiness

1,908 Listeners

Throughline by NPR

Throughline

16,483 Listeners

Life Kit: Parenting by NPR

Life Kit: Parenting

629 Listeners

Life Kit: Money by NPR

Life Kit: Money

442 Listeners

Life Kit by NPR

Life Kit

4,827 Listeners

How To! with Mike Pesca by Peach Fish Projects

How To! with Mike Pesca

1,943 Listeners

Short Wave by NPR

Short Wave

6,582 Listeners

How to Be a Better Human by TED

How to Be a Better Human

1,425 Listeners

How to Age Up by The Atlantic

How to Age Up

1,434 Listeners