Dr Taryn Knox1
1University Of Otago
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a widely used measure of obesity and is commonly referred to in discourses regarding health. The mainstream view regarding obesity is that there is a straightforward relationship between BMI and poor health – those who have a high BMI are less likely to be in good health than those who have a normal BMI. While there is a relatively strong relationship between BMI and health at the population level, BMI has many limitations, especially when used in the clinic as whether risk increases with BMI depends on, amongst other things, genetics, diet, physical activity and the degree of obesity. Measuring BMI in the clinical setting also contributes to weight stigma – negative attitudes and beliefs towards larger people. These points have led some to argue that BMI should not be used in the clinic. However, given that there remains a relatively strong relationship between BMI and health, abandoning BMI may be unduly extreme.
This presentation considers whether and how BMI could be used in the clinic in a way that both recognises the limitations of BMI and reduces weight stigma. Specifically, it considers the argument that the global entrenchment of diet culture means that any use of BMI in the clinical setting will always contribute to weight stigma.
Biography:
Bio to come