Recent research studies strongly disagree with Body Mass Index (BMI) as indicator of obesity. Instead they claim the waist measurement as the true indicator.

BMI is calculated by dividing one’s height (in metres) squared by weight (in kilos). However, this method does not take into account what your body has - fat or muscle.

A study done by the Mayo Clinic raised fresh concerns about BMI as it showed that heart patients identified as overweight lived longer than those identified as having a normal weight. It is mainly because BMI cannot differentiate between muscle and fat.

Health researchers say that men and women with a waist larger than 40in or 35in respectively can be considered having potentially dangerous levels of abdominal fat.

Now health clinics record only the waist measurements in addition to BMI. However there is a strong need to record both waist measurements as well as BMI, to know you are obese or not, whether your body has muscle or fat.