While it’s safe to say most women aim to stay in a healthy weight range, the latest graph proves that weight and BMI aren’t a great indication for body shape or ideals.
A 3-D chart created for Cosmopolitan decided to put this theory to the test – showcasing how six women who may have the same height and weight, (placing them at normal or healthy weight on the BMI scale) all have bodies that look nothing alike.
The six women, all 5ft 7 and 145 pounds, have an identical BMI of 22.8.
Image via Cosmopolitan
Designed by New York company Body Labs, the chart proves that weight distribution is down to physical make-up and body mass and muscle. The graph also shows how BMI isn’t an accurate measure of an individual’s health and fitness, and does little to show long-term health of the women involved.
Explaining the reason behind designing the tell-tale design, Jonathan Schwartz, the director of products at Body Labs said:
“You can be an athlete in great shape and be deemed overweight or even obese.
Olympics athlete Jessica Ennis is classed ‘overweight’ on the BMI chart
“Or you could have an average BMI but carry a significantly higher amount of mass in your torso, which as some studies show can be a predictor of health risks such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes.”
So the best advice to take from this?
Don’t base your health on one number on the scale, or a BMI. It’s all about taking the best care possible for your body.
