The condition is better measured by looking at factors like inflammation, insulin resistance, and glucose tolerance, according to the doctor. In some cases, using BMI can result in “muscular athletes” being labeled as obese, he noted, and people with “normal” BMI can sometimes have “harmful” levels of visceral (abdominal) fat.

Dr. Lesley Lutes from UBC Okanagan says body mass index (BMI) is a one-size-fits-all approach to looking at one's weight, and that doctors should look at where fat is located in the human body before diagnosing weight disorders.