According to the New York Times article, why is B.M.I. considered "fairly useless when looking at the individual"?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Body mass index (BMI) is a simple ratio: weight (kg) divided by height (m) squared, so it measures mass relative to stature but not tissue type. This is the key concept behind the New York Times critique.

1. Relevant knowledge points and concepts
- BMI = weight (kg) / height (m)^2.  
- BMI is a population-level screening tool correlated with risk of certain diseases, but it does not measure body composition (fat vs. muscle vs. bone).  
- Body composition differences (athletes, elderly, people with high muscle mass) lead to misleading BMI categories.

2. Step-by-step reasoning
- Because BMI uses only total mass and height, two people with identical BMI can have very different proportions of fat and lean tissue.  
- A muscular person can have high weight from muscle and therefore a high BMI, yet low body fat and low health risk. Conversely, a person with low muscle mass and high body fat can have a “normal” BMI while carrying unhealthy fat.

3. Numerical examples (intermediate steps)
- Example A: 90 kg, 1.80 m → BMI = 90 / (1.8^2) = 90 / 3.24 ≈ 27.8 (overweight). If much of that 90 kg is muscle, cardiovascular/metabolic risk may be low despite BMI > 25.  
- Example B: 60 kg, 1.60 m → BMI = 60 / (1.6^2) = 60 / 2.56 ≈ 23.4 (normal). If this person has low muscle and high visceral fat, health risk may be higher than BMI indicates.

4. Why the correct answer is correct
- The NYT calls BMI “fairly useless when looking at the individual” because its single-number approach cannot distinguish fat, muscle, and bone. That inability explains why individual assessments based solely on BMI can be misleading.

5. Why the other options are incorrect
- “Developed and validated mostly in women”: inaccurate — BMI (Quetelet index) was developed as a population statistic, not specifically validated only in women.  
- “Challenging to measure accurately”: false — BMI requires only weight and height, which are easy to measure.  
- “Fails to account for a person's age and gender”: while BMI doesn’t adjust for body composition differences by age/sex, the NYT’s primary criticism emphasized failure to distinguish tissue types rather than only age/gender adjustments.

6. Conclusion
This explanation confirms the correct answer: It cannot accurately distinguish between fat, muscle, and bone.

According to the New York Times article, why is B.M.I. considered "fairly useless when looking at the individual"?Single choice

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