Problems Using Body Mass Index (BMI) to Assess Mortality

There is increasing unease in the medical community about using the predictive value of the body measurement index (BMI) as a guide to an individual's current and future health. Elevated BMIs are evaluated by life and disability underwriters as part of a comprehensive review, but other than verifying overweight status, the predictive value of BMI on future morbidity and mortality is questionable until the BMI is >35, and several studies have shown better mortality in the "overweight" BMI 25-29.9 category than in the "normal" BMI 18.5-24.9 category. The goal of this treatise is to evaluate other anthropomorphic measurements that might be better predictors of future health.