(no subject)

[ajva]

Oh fuck *off*.

Everybody knows BMI is a shit measure anyway. Why does an entire profession, scientifically trained, ignore the evidence of the scientific method? Knowing that BMI is shit because it measures only weight with respect to height rather than anything else like bodyfat or muscle, still they persevere with it because they can't be bothered to do anything else.

Are they going to turn away athletes like Martin Johnson or Matthew Pinsent?

Cunts. Morons. I despair.

Comments

[adjectivegail]

I can start you off - The Obesity Myth by Paul Campos. He belabours the point somewhat, but he does quote lots and lots of scientific studies, and cites them at the back of the book so you can go look them up yourself if you don't believe him.

The gist of it:
- There is no correlation between obesity and morbidity, unless you take into consideration other factors such as smoking, diabetes, cancer, etc.
- In fact, a healthy, active person with a BMI over 25 has a lower risk of mortality than an equivalent person whose BMI is under 25.
- Fat people who try to get thin in order to avoid certain health problems (e.g. hypertension, heart problems, diabetes, etc.) are more likely to wind up with exactly these health problems than either a fat person who takes up regular exercise (e.g. 30 minutes walking a few times a week) or even than a fat person who doesn't change their lifestyle.
- Because a lot of people believe that if they're thinner they'll be healthier, they try to be thinner by restricting what they eat. In fact very few people manage to succeed at this, and those who do actually reduce their life expectancy. And those who yo-yo diet make it even worse. In fact, mortality rates were most reduced in subjects who took up regular, moderate exercise - and hardly any of them got any thinner.

And it goes on and on and on.

I really hope these Trusts get their asses sued off. Even if I do realise that the likelihood of that happening is close to nil. Grrr.

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Um. I know that if I read the book I'd be frustratingly half-convinced - I know it's not my field, and I'm sure he presents what seems like a very convincing case, but I just bet that if I met someone equally knowledgable and determined to present the opposite case they'd convince me the other way. I really don't know how to go about figuring out the truth on this one.

However, I am pretty convinced that there's a correlation between weight and adiposity, whether or not reducing either is good for you.