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Defining healthy weight: Are BMI classifications misleading?
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Body Mass Index (BMI) is a well accepted diagnostic tool, but does it have limitations that could lead to misclassifications for health and disease risk? - photo by Emily Fonnesbeck
Determining healthy weight is a complicated issue. We can observe the variability in just looking around us; obviously, we come in many different shapes and sizes. Regulation of body weight seems to be a mix of a variety of factors, most notably genetics and environment.

The issue becomes more complicated when we try to use weight to measure health. The way this is done is typically through the Body Mass Index, a weight-to-height ratio, calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters. This number is then used to classify someone as normal weight, overweight or obese, which supposedly correlates with morbidity and mortality. Being classified as overweight or obese based on BMI is seen as a risk factor for the development of several health issues.

Drawbacks of using BMI

But is that accurate? Does BMI accurately measure fitness or fatness, and does having a higher BMI actually come with greater risks for health concerns or mortality rates? There are three distinct drawbacks to using BMI as a measurement of health.

1. First, BMI was never created for or meant to be used on individuals. It was originally created in the 19th century by a Belgian statistician (not a physician or medical researcher) by the name of Lambert Adolphe Jacques Quetelet who was trying to assess the collective weight of a population (men only). However, its easy and quick, which made it more convenient for doctors and insurance companies to use.

2. Because BMI is only concerned with height and weight, it doesnt factor in muscle mass, hydration status or bone density, and therefore isn't an accurate measurement of fitness or fatness.

3. BMI correlations to morbidity and mortality do not take into account genetics. Dr. Frank Nuttall wrote a critical review of BMI research for the journal Nutrition Today in 2015, showing the classifications given by measuring BMI may be misleading. In fact, he found that the lowest death rate "was among those in the 'overweight' category, and this was particularly true among the men. There also was a broad range of BMIs over which there was little difference in mortality (BMI of 23.5 to 30)."

Many people are very surprised by this the "healthiest" BMI bracket correlates with the "overweight" category.

More than just weight and height

The draw for using BMI to measure health is easy to see its fast, clear-cut and objective. However, a closer look makes it clear that there are other factors to consider and a healthy weight may be more subjective and variable.

Most importantly, while BMI may be correlated with increased health risks, it's vitally important to remember correlation is not causation. It could be that we are comparing apples to oranges, with other characteristics and variables that arent being considered.

The best explanation is found in this Poodle Science video from the Association for Size Diversity and Health.

Amy Herskowitz is a senior consultant for community health care government programs in Canada who produced the video. She wrote a blog post for the Association for Size Diversity and Health to explain why the Health At Every Size (HAES) model is a better way to approach health than using BMI. Herskowitz also explained in the post why she made the video: to quickly and easily explain to the public why health is determined by more than just height and weight.

"The HAES paradigm builds on the research showing that social determinants of health: socioeconomic status, equality, equity, social support, and freedom from racism, violence, sexism, poverty, weight stigma, and so on, are the most important contributing causes of health disparities, and yet, they are rarely addressed within medicine or the clinician-patient relationship," Herskowitz wrote. "A lack of attention to these issues, combined with an obsessive focus on arbitrary numerical cutoffs that define health and disease, allow capitalist market concerns like profits from drugs, surgeries, diets, and procedures to trump scientific inquiries that establish how to optimize our well-being."

[YouTube Video]

Best way to determine your health

Because of this, here's what I think determines a healthy weight, taking into account both genetics and environment: Its one you maintain effortlessly with healthful, non-restrictive, adequate and flexible food patterns combined with sane amounts of physical activity. Its a weight where you are free of food and exercise preoccupation and can live life without having to plan around those things.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.